Palworld crossplay: Pick the right server for PC, Xbox, PS5 and Mac

Palworld crossplay works across the supported platforms, but a server’s setup decides whether everyone can actually join. A private dedicated server is not automatically discoverable to console players, so settle on the right format before your group starts its first base.

Key points

• Official crossplay covers Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Mac.
• CrossplayPlatforms controls allowed platforms on dedicated servers.
• Xbox and PS5 players should use a community server to find a dedicated server in-game.
• The crossplay update added Pal world transfers.

Quick answer: does Palworld have crossplay?

Yes. Pocketpair announced crossplay for Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Mac. On a current dedicated server, CrossplayPlatforms controls who can connect and defaults to Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Mac.

• Use hosted co-op for a quick session when the host will stay online.
• Use a dedicated server for a persistent shared world.
• Use a community server when Xbox or PS5 players need to find the server from the in-game list.
• Test one player from every platform before committing to a long progression session.

Pick the server type first

Hosted co-op is the fast option: one player opens their world and sends an invite code. The world closes when that host leaves. A dedicated server is better when friends play at different times, because the server—not one player’s game client—hosts the world.

A community server is still a dedicated server; it is simply published in the in-game list. The official startup option is -publiclobby.

Recommended Palworld crossplay settings

1. Start Palworld Dedicated Server once, then stop it so its active configuration is created.
2. Edit the active PalWorldSettings.ini, not the default template.
3. Set a clear server name and password.
4. Keep CrossplayPlatforms=(Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac) when your group uses all four platforms.
5. Start with -publiclobby if Xbox or PS5 players need to join from the list.
6. Have every platform find and join the server before creating a guild or building a major base.

A password does not disable crossplay; it only restricts access. Mods are a more common source of trouble during testing. Pocketpair warns that outdated or incompatible mods can cause crashes, so remove them before diagnosing a failed connection.

Progression and world transfers

Playing together means sharing a world, not freely moving one character between any world. The crossplay update added the ability to move Pals between worlds. Dedicated-server settings also expose Global Palbox import and export controls; check that the host has enabled the relevant option before relying on it.

Treat your selected server as the group’s main world. Do not build for hours in a local world assuming it will turn into a dedicated server without planning. Enable backups before updates, configuration changes or any Pal transfer.

Connection test: fix the failure in the right order

1. Ask which platform the player actually uses: Steam PC and Microsoft Store PC are not the same entry route.
2. Update the game on every device and remove mods for the test.
3. Check that CrossplayPlatforms contains every platform in the group.
4. For Xbox and PS5, confirm the server is a community server and search its exact name.
5. Retest the password with a player who is already connected.
6. Only then investigate ports, firewall rules and network routing.

Keep the save and diagnose one variable at a time instead of recreating worlds. For current settings, use the official configuration guide; for community-server publishing, use Pocketpair’s official setup page. Find more practical reading in jeu.video’s articles, news and latest posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified sources

These links help readers and search assistants check the facts used in this article.

• store.steampowered.com
• docs.palworldgame.com
• docs.palworldgame.com
• news.palworldgame.com