Is Arc Raiders Cross Platform? Exciting Guide for UK Players

If your squad is split across different systems, one question comes before anyone buys the game: is arc raiders cross platform? The short answer is yes, and in this game that answer matters a lot, because Arc Raiders is built around small squads heading to a dangerous surface, looting what they can, and trying to get out alive. Arc Raiders is a third-person PvPvE extraction shooter from Embark Studios. You play as a Raider leaving the underground settlement of Speranza, scavenging a surface overrun by hostile ARC machines, and dealing with rival players who may help you, trade with you, or take your loot. You can raid solo or in a squad of two or three.

The Short Answer: Yes, Arc Raiders Is Cross Platform

Yes, Arc Raiders is cross platform. Players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC can play together in the same raids, and crossplay is switched on by default. A PS5 player, an Xbox player and a PC player can be in the same squad, and they can also meet as rival raiders on the surface. What matters is your platform and your Embark ID, the account system that ties your Arc Raiders identity together across systems.

There is one exception to know early: there is no console-only crossplay option. If crossplay is on, console players share a pool with PC players, and switching it off is the only way to match with your own platform alone.

Which Platforms Play Together?

Arc Raiders launched on 30 October 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with PC available through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It was developed and published by Embark Studios, the studio also known for The Finals, and it runs on Unreal Engine 5. There is no PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version, so players still on those consoles cannot join at all. The game is not free to play; it launched at around £30 for the standard edition in the UK, depending on the store and any current offer.

Platform	Plays with PS5	Plays with Xbox Series X|S	Plays with PC
PlayStation 5	Yes	Yes	Yes
Xbox Series X|S	Yes	Yes	Yes
PC (Steam / Epic)	Yes	Yes	Yes

How Crossplay Works in a Raid

With crossplay on, Arc Raiders uses one shared pool rather than separate platform servers. When you press play, you can be matched with players from any supported platform, whether they end up as teammates through squad fill or as rival raiders in the same map. Squad size is capped at three, including you, so a cross-platform squad is you plus up to two friends, and you can also raid solo or as a duo.

Guides disagree on input-based matchmaking, meaning whether controller and mouse-and-keyboard players are separated, so we do not treat it as a confirmed rule here. The confirmed part is simpler: crossplay is on by default, it covers all three platform families, and switching it off is the only way to restrict matchmaking to your own platform.

For loot routes once you are on the surface, see our Arc Raiders interactive map guide.

How to Add Friends on Another Platform: Your Embark ID

Native friend lists do not cross platforms on their own. A PlayStation Network list and an Xbox list are separate, and neither automatically finds a Steam player. Arc Raiders solves that with an Embark ID, your universal Arc Raiders identity across every platform. Your Embark ID is your chosen username plus a four-digit code, written as Username#1234. That full ID, including the numbers and the hash symbol, is what another player needs to add you, so copy it exactly.

To add a cross-platform friend, open the social or party menu, choose Add Friend, and enter their full Embark ID. Once they accept, they appear on your Arc Raiders friend list regardless of platform, and you can invite them from the party menu. If a friend cannot join, check the crossplay setting first.

Cross-Progression and Cross-Save: Does Your Progress Carry Over?

Yes, Arc Raiders supports full cross-progression, also often called cross-save. Your progress is tied to your Embark ID, not to a single console or PC, so your character progress, unlocks, gear, inventory and cosmetics should follow you when you sign in with the same Embark ID on another platform.

Two details are worth knowing. First, you may need to complete the short introductory tutorial again the first time you launch the game on a new platform, even though your main progress carries over after that. Second, cross-progression only works if you use the same Embark ID everywhere; a second Embark account will have its own separate progress.

Cross-Buy: Do You Need to Buy Arc Raiders Twice?

Cross-progression is not the same as cross-buy, and this is where many players get caught out. In most cases, owning Arc Raiders on one platform does not give you the game on another platform: a PS5 owner who later wants to play on PC needs to buy the PC version as well. Your progress travels through your Embark ID, but the licence to play on each system does not travel with it.

The one major exception is Xbox Play Anywhere. A purchase through the Microsoft Store for Xbox can also cover Windows PC within Microsoft’s ecosystem, so an Xbox purchase can let you play on both Xbox and PC without a second copy in that specific case. That exception does not cover PlayStation: a PS5 purchase does not unlock the game on PC or Xbox, and a Steam or Epic purchase does not unlock it on PS5.

How to Turn Crossplay On or Off

Crossplay is on by default, so most players never need to touch the setting. To change it, open Settings from the main menu, go to the Gameplay tab, find the Online section, and toggle Crossplay on or off. You cannot normally change this while actively matchmaking or in a raid, so change it before you queue. Turning crossplay off limits matchmaking to your own platform only, which can suit solo players who prefer same-platform lobbies, but it costs you a smaller pool and no cross-platform squad invites while it is off.

For most squads, leave crossplay on and use the Embark ID system to build the group you want. Console players still need their normal online subscription (PlayStation Plus / Game Pass Core, as reported by guides).

Conclusion

So, is arc raiders cross platform? Yes, fully. PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC players share crossplay by default, they can form mixed squads of up to three through the Embark ID system, and their progress follows them across platforms through cross-progression. The limits are clear and manageable: there is no console-only filter, there is no general cross-buy outside Xbox Play Anywhere, there is no PS4 or Xbox One version, and you need a copy of the game for each platform you want to play on.

If your friends are spread across systems, Arc Raiders is one of the easier games to organise. Get everyone’s full Embark ID, including the four-digit code, check that crossplay is on, and you can raid together on PlayStation, Xbox or PC.

For more UK gaming guides, keep following Game Horizon.

FAQs

Is Arc Raiders cross platform between PS5 and Xbox?

Yes. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players can play together in the same squad and raids. Add each other by full Embark ID, make sure crossplay is on, and invite from the party menu.

Is Arc Raiders cross platform with PC?

Yes. PC players on Steam and the Epic Games Store can play with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players. A squad can include PC, PS5 and Xbox players at the same time, up to the three-player squad limit.

Does Arc Raiders have cross-progression?

Yes. Arc Raiders has full cross-progression tied to your Embark ID. Progress, unlocks, gear and cosmetics carry over between PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, as long as you sign in with the same Embark ID everywhere.

Do I need to buy Arc Raiders again on another platform?

In most cases, yes. Cross-progression is not cross-buy, so a PS5 copy does not unlock the PC or Xbox version. The main exception is Xbox Play Anywhere, where a Microsoft Store purchase for Xbox can also cover Windows PC.

How do I turn crossplay off in Arc Raiders?

Go to Settings, then the Gameplay tab, find the Online section, and toggle Crossplay off. That limits matchmaking to your own platform only. There is no console-only option, so turning crossplay on always includes PC players in the shared pool.

Is Arc Raiders cross platform the same as crossplay?

In practice, yes, for this game. Both phrases mean playing together across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, while cross-progression is the separate feature that carries your save and unlocks between platforms.