Have you ever found yourself excited to play an online game with your friends, someone’s on PC, another is on PlayStation, and you are on Xbox, and then you realize that you can only play with your friend on PlayStation? If you’ve ever wondered why some games magically let everyone play together while others split players apart by devices, then you’ve bumped into two concepts: cross-play and cross-platform.

While these terms are often considered the same, they describe two different ideas that impact online gaming. Let’s break down what they mean, why they matter, and how they affect the gaming community.

What is Cross-Platform?

Cross-platform simply means that a game is available on multiple platforms or devices. For example, Minecraft is a cross-platform game because you can find it on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

However, just because a game is cross-platform doesn’t automatically mean that players on different platforms can play together. Sometimes, the same game may run on different devices, but keeps players separated by platforms. For example, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, so it’s cross-platform. But what makes it truly special is that it also supports cross-play.

A simple key takeaway is: Cross-platform = the game exists on different types of devices or platforms.

Top 3 Best Cross-Platform Games

1. Minecraft

Why it’s the ultimate cross-platform game:

Minecraft really is everywhere. PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile – you name it. There’s even a version for Raspberry Pi and VR headsets.

It’s a perfect example of how being cross-platform can make a game timeless. Minecraft’s immense popularity is one of the primary reasons it’s the best-selling game of all time. It doesn’t matter what device you have; chances are, you can run Minecraft on it.

Regular updates and the many ways players can mod it on PC have kept it popular for years.

2. Terraria

Why it’s a strong cross-platform title:

Terraria is an example of a game that refuses to fade. It’s available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile. Players can dig, build, and explore on almost every type of platform, whether it’s a small phone or a very powerful PC.

The reason Terraria works so well is that its simple, charming 2D style runs great on almost any device. Its updates keep players coming, too, so people can play again and again with new content. Also, the modding community constantly expands the game with new items, features, mobs, and much more, giving the players even more reasons to return and discover something new.

3. Rust

Why it’s a strong cross-platform example:

Rust started as a PC survival game but expanded to consoles with a dedicated Rust Console Edition, which runs on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This means a huge new player base can join in without needing a gaming PC.

Bringing a complex and large game dedicated to being driven by the community shows how a studio can grow in audience by adapting the game for console players, too. Even though the PC and console versions are separate, the fact that Rust is available on all the big platforms keeps its community active and the game relevant long after its release.

What is Cross-Play?

Cross-play means that players using different platforms can play together in the same online session.

Think of it like this: cross-play gives players the ability to play together regardless of what platform or devices they are playing on. It doesn’t matter if you are holding a controller, a mouse, or tapping on your phone screen; everyone is in the same matchmaking pool. For example, Fortnite is one of the most well-known cross-play games. You can play with your friends on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, or mobile while playing on the same 1v1 creative map.

A simple key takeaway is: Cross-play = players on different platforms can connect and play together.

Top 3 Best Cross-Play Games

1. Minecraft

Why it’s top-tier for cross-play too:

Minecraft Bedrock doesn’t just run everywhere; it connects players everywhere, too. Switch players can play with an Xbox, PlayStation, or Windows player without any problems.

This is exactly what cross-play should feel like: you buy the game once for your platform, and then you can play with anyone, anywhere.

2. Valheim

Why does it work well for cross-play?

Valheim added cross-play between PC stores (Steam, Xbox Game Pass) and Xbox consoles. This means you can host a Viking survival server and invite friends, whether they’re on PC or Xbox, with no extra hassle.

It’s a great example of a modern indie game using cross-play to keep its community strong and connected.

3. Don’t Starve Together

Why it’s worth including for cross-play:

Don’t Starve Together runs on PC and consoles and has partial cross-play support (for example, between PS4 and PS5). It’s not universal across all platforms, but the developers have worked on cross-play expansions and improvements over time.

Even limited cross-play makes it easier for friends on similar consoles to play together and have nice survival experiences.

How do Cross-platform and Cross-play Work Together?

A game can be cross-platform without being cross-play, but logically speaking, a game cannot be cross-play without first being cross-platform.

For example, FIFA is cross-platform – it’s available on many consoles and PC – and some newer versions even support cross-play, so players on different systems can play matches together. In contrast, GTA V is also cross-platform (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) but doesn’t officially support cross-play, so PC players can’t play with console players.

Why Cybrancee is The Best Choice For Game Server Hosting?

Almost every online game that supports cross-play must have some servers to play with other players, including the ones that we’ve mentioned in the Top list. 

Now these servers are public, and every player can join. Now you may wonder: How can I play with my friends privately? To do that, you will need to host a private server. Now you can either host it on your PC and do all the hard work, including making the server, port forwarding, etc. But you can host a server much more easily using a hosting service. There are a lot of providers on the internet, including our Game Hosting Service, here’s why we are the best on the market:

• Super-speed Optimized (Low ping, SSD NVMe Storage): Enjoy lag-free gaming on our powerful dedicated servers, which are optimized for performance, speed, and reliability.
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Why Do Cross-Platform and Cross-Play Matter for Gamers?

For players, this difference can mean a lot, here’s why:

1. Bigger Player Pools

Cross-play means more opponents and teammates, reducing waiting times in matchmaking and keeping games more active for a longer period of time.

2. Play with Friends, No Matter the Device

Gaming has become very popular and is now like a social platform, so having cross-play, which lets you play with friends on different consoles, is a big advantage.

3. Longer Game Lifespans

Games with cross-play tend to keep communities stronger and more connected, which helps multiplayer games stay active for years.

What About Cross-Save or Cross-Progression?

While we are talking about cross-platform and cross-play, let’s bring on another related term: cross-save (or cross-progression).

This means your progress follows you across different platforms. For example, you could play Fortnite on your PlayStation, then later play on your phone and continue with the same skins, emotes, level, etc. Not every cross-play game has cross-save.

Why Some Games Don’t Have Cross-Play?

Why doesn’t every multiplayer game simply add cross-play to it? Here are a few reasons:

• Technical Challenges: Connecting different networks (such as Xbox Live, PSN, Steam, etc. ) isn’t simple and can be very difficult.
• Balance Issues: Mouse and keyboard vs. controller can create competitive imbalances. For example, Rainbow Six Siege does not have full cross-play between PC and console because Ubisoft knows that mouse and keyboard aiming on PC gives a big advantage over controller players.
• Business Reasons: Some companies, like Sony, prefer to keep their player bases within their own ecosystem. When Fortnite first exploded in popularity (2017-2018), Epic Games had cross-play working between Xbox, PC, and Switch, but Sony blocked PlayStation players from joining games with other consoles. 
• Security & Moderation: Managing player behavior across platforms can be trickier. A very good example is GTA V, which doesn’t have cross-play because a major part of GTA V players are PC players, and obviously, some of them are cheating. So the reason why Rockstar doesn’t add cross-play to GTA V is that console players would be forced into lobbies with PC cheaters, and that wouldn’t be fun. So, in this case, separating PC and console lobbies is one way to protect console players from exploits they can’t defend against.

The Future: Cross-Everything?

As gaming evolves, players expect cross-play, cross-save, and cross-platform to be a required feature rather than an optional feature. More studios are investing in tools to make this possible, and players are starting to choose games that have all of these features.

Final Thoughts

So, when you want to buy a game, be sure to remember this. When you see a cross-platform game, it means you can get it for your preferred device. When you see a cross-play game, it means you can play with your friends no matter what device they’re playing on.