Elden Ring does not support multiplayer between PS5 and PC Steam. The ELDEN RING section of FromSoftware’s official FAQ confirms this restriction. If you want to join a friend, check their platform before arranging a session: a shared password cannot make these versions compatible.
Which platforms can play together?
PS4 and PS5 players can play together, while Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players can also join each other. Multiplayer on PC Steam is limited to other PC Steam players. These distinctions matter when choosing a copy specifically for co-op with friends.
| Your platform | Confirmed compatibility | What this means for your group |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | PS4 and PS5 | A friend on PS4 can play with you. |
| PS4 | PS4 and PS5 | You can join a friend on PS5. |
| PC Steam | PC Steam only | Every participant must use the Steam version. |
| Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S | Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | Players across these Xbox generations can play together. |
This is the difference between cross-generation play and crossplay between platforms. A PS4–PS5 pair can share a session despite using different console generations. A PS5–PC Steam pair cannot, even though both players own Elden Ring and can access multiplayer separately.
Ask friends for their exact platform rather than simply whether they own the game. If you already have a PS4 and your friend plays on PS5, that generation gap is not a reason to change consoles. If your friend uses Steam, however, owning a PlayStation copy does not give you a compatible version for joining them.
Check compatibility before setting up co-op
Start with the platforms, then check how many people want to play together. Only after those decisions should you choose how to find your partners. A password helps you connect with particular players; it cannot solve a platform mismatch or increase the stated co-op capacity.
- Ask everyone which version they use: PS4, PS5, PC Steam, Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
- Compare the answers with the compatibility table. If your planned pair is PS5 and PC Steam, decide whether using compatible versions is practical before continuing.
- Count the participants. The co-op described on Steam supports up to two teammates alongside the host.
- For friends on Steam, agree on a shared password. Steam presents this as a way to find the teammates you want to join.
- For help without a prearranged partner on Steam, consider available players nearby. This is the alternative to organising a session with specific friends.
The result should be a group using compatible versions, with a size that fits the co-op session and an agreed way to find partners. This preparation comes before the in-game summoning steps; it does not replace them.
For four friends on Steam, the stated capacity means everyone cannot join the same co-op session. You can split into separate groups to play at the same time, or rotate participants so everyone gets a turn. Splitting keeps everyone involved simultaneously but separates the group; rotating preserves the shared session for those taking part but leaves others waiting. The limit of two teammates concerns the co-op described on Steam, not every multiplayer mode.
Use a password for friends or recruit nearby players
The official Elden Ring Steam page describes both ways to find teammates. Choose a shared password when your aim is to play with particular people. Recruiting from available players nearby suits a different need: finding help when you have no specific partner lined up.
For a PS5–PC Steam pair, repeatedly changing the password will not resolve the incompatibility. Return to the platform decision instead. If playing together is the priority, you need compatible versions; if keeping your current version matters more, you need partners who can join it.
Staying on Steam therefore gives you an alternative to switching versions: find other Steam players. The compromise is the company, rather than the password you choose. You can look for compatible help, but that does not bring your friend on PS5 into the session.
Choose your copy around the person you want to join
If co-op with a specific friend is the reason for buying Elden Ring, establish their platform before purchasing. A friend on PS5 can play with you on PS4 or PS5. A friend on PC Steam requires you to use Steam too. Your preferred machine and your intended co-op partner may lead to different choices, so settle that trade-off before paying for another copy.
If you already own incompatible versions, ask whether either of you can and wants to use a compatible one. Otherwise, keep your existing versions and find other partners. That changes who you play with, but avoids buying another copy that still does not meet your original goal.
Resolve platform compatibility first, then organise the group and choose how to find teammates. For PS5 and PC Steam friends, the decision is whether to use compatible versions or play with different partners. A shared password becomes useful only after that platform choice is settled.
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