•Patrik Mršnik• 5 min read
Games
Valheim Crossplay Now Connects PC, Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2
Valheim crossplay covers every platform the game ships on since 1.0 landed on September 9, 2026. If you're asking whether Valheim is cross-platform, the short answer is yes: Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2 players can all share one world.
Our Valheim review gave crossplay a single section. Here it gets the whole page.
Saves and mods still follow platform rules, and that's where mixed groups usually get stuck. Below, you'll find how to connect, who can host, and what stays locked to your own system.
Valheim Crossplay Summary
Valheim crossplay works on every version, from Steam and Mac to Xbox, PS5, and Switch 2.
Worlds hold 1–10 players, and that cap counts every platform together.
Friends connect with a Valheim join code from the host's pause menu, entered through Join Game and Add server.
Xbox can't host a dedicated server. PC players or rented hosts run it, with crossplay switched on.
Valheim cross-save only exists between Xbox and Microsoft Store PC. Steam, PS5 and Switch 2 saves stay put.
No mods on consoles, so a server needing client-side mods locks console friends out.
Patch 1.0.14 kept crossplay working as it reached platforms on different days.
Is Valheim Cross Platform at 1.0?
Yes, Valheim is cross platform on every version Iron Gate sells. The Valheim 1.0 FAQ confirms crossplay between all platforms and keeps the game built for 1 to 10 players per world.
Platform | Crossplay | Hosts a dedicated server | Cross save |
|---|---|---|---|
Steam (Windows, Linux, Mac) | Yes | Yes | No |
Mac App Store, Humble Store | Yes | Not covered by Iron Gate | No |
Microsoft Store PC | Yes | Yes | With Xbox only |
Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | Yes | No, joins only | With Microsoft Store PC only |
PlayStation 5 | Yes | Not listed by Iron Gate | No |
Nintendo Switch 2 | Yes | Not listed by Iron Gate | No |
Before 1.0, crossplay only linked PC, Mac and Xbox, since there was no PlayStation or Nintendo version at all. Guides written before September 9 still say so, which is why search results contradict each other.
The 10-player cap matters more now. Five PC players and five console players already fill a world. Got a bigger Discord? You'll need a second server.
How to Join a Valheim Crossplay World
The host starts a world with crossplay on, opens the pause menu and shares the join code. Iron Gate's official Crossplay FAQ covers the other half: friends pick Join Game, choose Add server and paste the code, plus the password if the world has one.
Valheim dedicated server crossplay adds one step. Steam and Microsoft Store players start the server with the StartHeadlessServer.bat file, and hosting guides add the -crossplay launch argument so it runs through Microsoft's PlayFab relay. Without that flag, those guides say only Steam players can see the server.
Hosting providers also report that the relay removes the need for port forwarding. Console players can find a crossplay dedicated server by name in their Join menu, so the code isn't the only way in.
Join codes change after each server restart, according to the same providers. Treat any code you post in a group chat as temporary and check it again after maintenance.
Valheim Cross Save, Mods and Patch Timing
Valheim cross save only works between Xbox and Microsoft Store PC. Iron Gate says there's no cross-platform save sync outside that pair, so a Steam world or character doesn't carry over to PS5 or Switch 2. Early access saves still load at 1.0, on the platform where you made them.
Mods split groups too. Consoles get no mod support at 1.0, and Iron Gate isn't adding Steam Workshop either, so a PC server with client-side mods shuts out every console player.
Patch timing was the rough spot at launch. Switch 2 got its patch later than the other platforms, and crossplay with Switch 2 was down until it landed. The Hotfix 1.0.10 and 1.0.12 notes on September 11 apologised for the delay and said all platforms were crossplay compatible again. With Patch 1.0.14 on September 17, the studio said crossplay would stay functional through that patch's staggered rollout, and it added GPU performance fixes for Switch 2.
FAQs About Valheim Crossplay
Final Words
Crossplay turned Valheim from a PC game with an Xbox side door into one a whole friend group can buy on whatever they own. Saves never got the same treatment, and that gap decides who should host.
Pick the host before the first session. A Steam world welcomes PS5 and Switch 2 friends, but it lives on the host's PC or server. If that person drops out, the world goes with them unless the files move to another PC host.
Keep an eye on patch notes over the next few updates. Iron Gate kept crossplay working through the 1.0.14 rollout, and the next hotfixes will show whether Switch 2 keeps pace with the other platforms.
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