Your friend plays on Xbox. You're on PS5. You hit the invite and nothing happens. Or worse, you found someone on PC who wants to squad up, and you have no idea if that's even possible.
Is PUBG a cross platform game? Yes, but with limits most guides don't explain. The answer depends entirely on which two platforms you're comparing.
The answer depends entirely on which two platforms you're talking about and this guide covers every combination, including the ones that quietly ruin your experience.
Is PUBG Cross Platform? Quick Answer
Yes and no — PUBG runs three separate matchmaking pools. Which one you land in depends on your platform.
| Platform Combo | Crossplay? |
|---|---|
| PS5 ↔ Xbox Series X|S | Yes on by default |
| Steam ↔ Epic Games Store | Yes same PC pool |
| PC ↔ Console | No completely separate |
| PUBG Mobile iOS ↔ Android | Yes |
| PUBG Mobile ↔ PC or Console | No |
| GameLoop ↔ PUBG Mobile | Emulator pool only |
Console Crossplay PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players share full crossplay. You queue together, you match together, you play together. It's on by default, so most players never touch the setting.
One important update: on November 13, 2025 PUBG dropped support for PS4 and Xbox One. Legacy consoles no longer have access to the game. If you're still on old hardware, an upgrade is the only path back in.
How to Enable Crossplay on Console
- On PS5: Open PUBG → Settings → Gameplay tab → Set Crossplay to ON
- On Xbox Series X|S: Open PUBG → Settings → Gameplay tab → Set Crossplay to ON
One Thing Console Players Miss About Voice Chat
Here's what almost no guide mentions: PS5 Party Chat and Xbox system chat don't bridge across platforms. If you're on PS5 and your squadmate is on Xbox, native party apps won't connect you. The fix is simple: use PUBG's in-game voice channel. Go to Settings → Audio → Voice Chat → Team Channel. Both players hear each other regardless of platform. Skip the party apps, use in-game voice, and you're sorted.
PC Crossplay Steam and Epic Games Store
Wondering if PUBG is cross platform with PC and console? It's not PC crossplay that only works within the PC itself. Steam and Epic Games Store players land in the same pool, but the console stays out. If your friend plays on Epic and you're on Steam, squads and matchmaking work fine. What doesn't work: PC and console. Those pools stay separate, no exceptions in public matchmaking.
Does Using a Controller on PC Give You Console Crossplay?
No. This comes up constantly, and the answer is a hard no.PUBG's matchmaking checks your platform account PC or console not what input device you plug in. Swap your keyboard for a controller on PC, and you're still in the PC pool, matched against mouse and keyboard players. The controller doesn't move you. If you want console crossplay, you need a console account. The input device has nothing to do with it.
Why Can't PC and Console Players Play Together in PUBG?
So is PUBG cross platform on PC with console? No, and it's blocked for three real reasons, not excuses.
- Input advantage. Mouse and keyboard gives measurable accuracy advantages at range. PUBG doesn't add aim assist for console players the way some other shooters do. Mixing inputs creates lobbies where one group has a structural edge.
- Frame rate differences. The PC has no frame cap. The console runs at 144fps maximum. In a game where reaction time at high frame rates creates real advantages, this gap matters in competitive play.
- Anti-cheat separation. PC and console run different anti-cheat systems. Merging the pools would create verification gaps that cheaters could exploit.
How PUBG Compares to Other Battle Royales on This
Other battle royale titles solved PC-console crossplay by adding aim assist for console players even in PC lobbies — creating a softer input gap. PUBG hasn't taken that route. Krafton has addressed this in investor Q&As, stating that competitive integrity is the reason for keeping pools separate. Their position: the input gap in PUBG is large enough that merging pools would damage ranked play quality for console players.
What Happens If You Turn Crossplay Off?
This is the section every other guide skips. Turning crossplay off sounds like a clean way to play with "your platform only" but the actual result is much worse. Queue times get long. Depending on your region and the time of day, wait times can jump from under a minute to several minutes. Off-peak hours make it worse. Your lobby is filled with bots. When real player counts drop, PUBG fills lobbies with AI. Turn crossplay off on console during off-peak hours and up to 90% of your lobby can be bots. You'll win games against bots and your rank won't mean much.
| Factor | Crossplay ON | Crossplay OFF |
|---|---|---|
| Queue Time | Fast | Slow to very slow |
| Lobby Players | Real players | Up to 90% bots |
| Rank Value | Full | Questionable |
| Off-Peak Hours | Playable | Near unplayable |
| Recommendation | Keep ON | Avoid |
PUBG Mobile Crossplay
Is PUBG Mobile cross platform? Yes but only within mobile. iOS and Android players share the same pool fully. Mobile players match against mobile players regardless of device. What doesn't connect: PUBG Mobile and PUBG: Battlegrounds (PC/Console) are completely separate games with separate servers. The app on your phone and the game on your PC share a name and a concept.
The GameLoop Squad Trap
GameLoop is an Android emulator that lets you run PUBG Mobile on PC. It works but it has a catch most players don't know before it's too late. If even one person in your squad plays through GameLoop, the entire squad gets pulled into the emulator matchmaking pool. That includes your mobile friends. Your four person squad, with three mobile players and one GameLoop user, ends up in emulator lobbies not regular mobile matchmaking. Check before you squad up. If someone in your group uses GameLoop, everyone gets emulator lobbies whether they want it or not.
Region Settings
You enabled crossplay. Your squad is on the same platform. Matches still feel terrible for someone in the group. Check regions. PUBG matches you based on your server selection not automatically based on where your squadmates are. If you're in South Asia and your squadmate's client is set to Europe, crossplay works fine but one of you is playing on the wrong server.
Does PUBG Have Cross-Progression?
No and this is separate from PUBG cross platform play entirely. Skins, G-Coins, seasonal passes, stats all locked to the platform where you earned them. One exception: the November 2025 console transition. If you moved from PS4 to PS5, or from Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S, your progress carried over within the same console family. PC to console, or console to PC no transfer exists. Krafton hasn't announced any cross-progression plan for mid 2026 or beyond. Before you spend G-Coins on a skin, decide which platform is your main one. A skin bought on PC stays on PC. If you switch to a console six months later, that purchase doesn't come with you.
How to Play With Friends on Different Platforms
There's one workaround: Custom Matches. PC and console players can share a private lobby through Custom Matches; it's the only game mode where the platform separation doesn't apply. Custom Matches don't count toward ranked. You can't push your rating this way. But if you just want to play with a friend on a different platform, this is how you do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PUBG cross platform between PC and PS5?
No. If you're asking is PUBG cross platform with PC and PS5 together — the answer is no. Public matchmaking keeps the two pools completely separate.
Can Xbox and PlayStation players play PUBG together?
Yes. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S share full crossplay. It's on by default — no setup required.
Is PUBG crossplay on by default?
On console, yes. Steam and Epic PC players are in the same pool automatically.
What happens if I turn off crossplay in PUBG?
Queue times get longer and lobbies fill with bots up to 90% in off-peak hours. Crossplay gives you better lobbies almost every time.
Does PUBG have cross-progression?
No. Cosmetics and stats are locked to the platform where you earned them. Krafton hasn't announced a timeline for changing this.
Can PUBG Mobile players play with PC players?
PUBG Mobile is cross platform between iOS and Android — but not with PC or console. PUBG Mobile and PUBG: Battlegrounds run on completely separate servers. They don't connect.