Enshrouded will not support crossplay at the launch of version 1.0. Friends planning to play together need to agree on a shared platform, then check its player limit: up to 16 on Windows through Steam, compared with 8 on PS5.
Choose a shared platform before arranging a session
In its FAQ dated October 13, 2026, Keen Games confirms the launch restriction and says it is working on crossplay, with no estimated timeframe. That announcement applies to the 1.0 launch; it does not establish when compatibility between platforms might arrive.
Start by asking everyone which platform they intend to use. If your group is split between PC and PS5, a direct invitation or dedicated server cannot bypass the lack of crossplay. Agree on a shared platform before considering another purchase. If nobody wants to switch, wait for an official crossplay announcement before arranging a session across those platforms.
The next check is group size. The Steam listing advertises online co-op for up to 16 players on Windows. The US PlayStation Store listing lists up to 8 online players on PS5 and requires PlayStation Plus for online play. That subscription requirement comes from the US listing; it should not be used to infer subscription prices in France or other regions.
| Edition | Announced online capacity | Requirement to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Windows / Steam | Up to 16 players | The group needs to share a platform at launch. |
| PS5 | Up to 8 players | PlayStation Plus is required for online play. |
For a group larger than 8 but within Steam’s limit, Steam is the only edition in this comparison whose announced capacity accommodates everyone. A smaller group can fit within either limit, but available slots do not resolve platform compatibility. Make both decisions together: where everyone will play, and whether that edition has room for the whole group.
Once the group has settled on Steam, use a direct invitation if a friend’s session is difficult to find or join, or search for a dedicated server if your group uses one.
Invite a friend through Steam
When everyone is on Steam but joining a session is proving difficult, try an invitation through the friends list. Enshrouded's network support documentation recommends this route when other players struggle to find or join a game.
This procedure and the dedicated server instructions below come from support articles updated on February 21, 2025. Their menu labels may differ in the 1.0 interface. They cover Windows and Steam, rather than the PS5 invitation process.
- Open your Steam friends list while in your session.
- Right-click the name of the friend you want to invite.
- Select “invite to game”.
- Ask your friend to join through the invitation.
The result to check is whether your friend enters the session. Sending an invitation alone does not confirm that the connection worked. If they join successfully, you can play together without first resolving why the session was difficult to find in the browser.
If the session remains invisible, check your Steam profile’s privacy settings. Official support identifies a private profile as a possible reason a peer-to-peer session does not appear in the server browser. It is a visibility issue worth checking, rather than an explanation for every failed connection. If you prefer to keep your profile private, try the direct invitation before changing that setting.
Find and favorite the group’s dedicated server
For a group already using a dedicated server, the relevant browser filter is the place to start. The official dedicated server FAQ describes how to display dedicated servers and keep a chosen server near the top of the list:
- Select “Join” from the main menu.
- Open the server browser’s filters.
- Enable “Show dedicated server”.
- Find the server agreed on with your friends and try to join it.
- Select its star icon to mark it as a favorite and move it higher in the list.
Check that the server appears after enabling the filter, then confirm that you can enter the group’s world. Finding a server and connecting to it are separate steps; its presence in the browser does not establish that joining has succeeded.
Favoriting the server makes it easier to find for later sessions. Use this route when your friends are playing on a dedicated server, rather than treating it as a workaround for the launch restriction on crossplay.
Keep save continuity separate from cross-save
Before changing platforms to join friends, consider what happens to your progress. Crossplay allows people on different platforms to play together; cross-save concerns carrying a save between platforms. A PC-to-PS5 transfer of characters or worlds is not confirmed, so do not choose another edition on the assumption that your existing progress will follow.
The dedicated server documentation separates character and world data: character progress is stored on the client, while world progress is stored on the dedicated server. Joining the group’s world and retaining your character therefore concern different save data. That storage arrangement does not, by itself, establish compatibility between platforms.
For PC players moving from Early Access to version 1.0, the launch FAQ does confirm continuity: existing saves can be reused and will be converted to a new format. You can retain that progress through the PC transition without treating it as confirmation of console cross-save.
Choose a shared platform with enough room for everyone before arranging your launch session. On Steam, use a direct invitation for a friend’s session or the dedicated server filter for the group’s server. If playing together requires switching editions, make that decision without counting on a save transfer that has yet to be confirmed.
See also our Enshrouded game page.
