Does PUBG Support Crossplay with Console & PC in 2024?

If you’re a PUBG fan, you’ve probably wondered if you can team up with friends across different platforms. It doesn’t matter if you’re a console user or a PC player, the idea of crossplay brings a whole new level of excitement to the game. Imagine fewer solo matches and more epic squad victories, all without the limitations of platform boundaries.

In 2024, the landscape of gaming is more interconnected than ever, but does PUBG live up to these cross-platform expectations? Let’s discuss what PUBG has in store for crossplay enthusiasts this year. But before moving forward, let’s learn a little more about PUBG—because why not?

PUBG: A Brief History

PUBG: Battlegrounds, also known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, is a popular battle royale game developed by PUBG Studios and published by PUBG Corporation. The game pits 100 players against each other in a fight to be the last person standing on a remote island.

Players parachute in, scavenge for gear, and avoid a shrinking safe zone and other players. The game is known for its realistic gunplay and diverse maps, offering intense, high-stakes action that helped popularize the genre. It’s one of the OG battle royales that kickstarted the genre.

PUBG has been a commercial success, selling over 75 million copies on PC and consoles and generating over $13 billion in worldwide revenue. PUBG Mobile has been a massive success in its own right, with over 1 billion downloads and $9 billion in revenue as of December 2022.

READ MORE: Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Optimization Guide ➜

What Platforms is PUBG Available On?

PUBG: Battlegrounds, the popular battle royale game, is available on a variety of platforms.

• PC: PUBG was first released on PC in 2017 as an early access title. The full PC version was later launched in 1.0 in December 2017. The PC version is available on Steam and supports Windows operating systems.
• Xbox: PUBG was first released on Xbox One in 2017 as a Game Preview title. The full Xbox One release came in 2018.
• PlayStation: The PlayStation 4 version of PUBG was launched in 2018.
• Next-Gen Consoles: PUBG is also available on the latest generation of consoles – the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, which were released in 2020.

• Android/iOS: PUBG Mobile, a free-to-play mobile version of the game, was released worldwide in 2018 for Android and iOS devices.
• Mobile Lite: PUBG Mobile Lite, a version optimized for lower-end Android devices, was launched in 2019.

READ MORE: PUBG Mobile Matchmaking Taking Forever? Try these tips ➜

Does PUBG Support Crossplay?

PUBG has had a somewhat complicated history when it comes to crossplay functionality. Let’s dive into the details:

1. Crossplay Between Consoles

PUBG does support crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Players on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S can all compete against each other in the same matches. This allows friends on different consoles to squad up and play together seamlessly.

The console crossplay feature was introduced in 2019 and has been a welcome addition for PUBG players. It helps maintain healthy player populations across the various console versions of the game.

2. No Crossplay Between PC and Consoles

However, PUBG does not support crossplay between PC and console platforms. Players on the PC version cannot join matches with those on PlayStation or Xbox.

This is primarily due to the significant differences in gameplay between the platforms. PC players have advantages with mouse and keyboard controls, higher frame rates, and customized settings that would make it unbalanced to match them against controller-wielding console players. The developers have cited these technical challenges as the reason for not enabling PC-console crossplay.

3. Crossplay Between Mobile Versions

On the mobile front, PUBG Mobile does support crossplay between iOS and Android devices. Players on either mobile operating system can squad up and compete against each other. This helps maintain a large player pool for the mobile version of the game.

4. No Crossplay Between Mobile and Other Platforms

Despite the mobile crossplay functionality, PUBG Mobile does not allow crossplay with the PC or console versions of the game. The mobile version is considered a separate experience tailored for smartphones and tablets, so it remains isolated from the other platforms.

5. Reasons for Limited Crossplay

The primary reasons PUBG has not enabled more extensive crossplay options come down to balancing concerns and technical limitations:

1. Control Scheme Differences: The mouse and keyboard provide a significant advantage over controller-based gameplay on consoles. Matching these two control schemes would create an uneven playing field.
2. Performance Disparities: PC players can achieve much higher frame rates and graphical fidelity compared to console players. This difference in performance could also lead to imbalances.
3. Cheating Concerns: PC platforms have historically struggled more with cheating and hacking issues. Introducing crossplay could potentially expose console players to these problems.
4. Technical Complexity: Fully integrating crossplay functionality across all platforms would require significant engineering efforts and resources from the PUBG development team.

↪ The Future of PUBG Crossplay

While PUBG’s crossplay options remain limited, the developers have not ruled out the possibility of expanding it in the future. They may explore ways to address the balancing and technical challenges, potentially by introducing input-based matchmaking or other solutions.

For now, PUBG players can enjoy crossplay between consoles and within the mobile ecosystem, but the dream of a truly unified player base across all platforms remains elusive.

READ MORE: Is Elden Ring Cross-Platform with Console & PC in 2024? ➜

How to Enable/Disable Console Crossplay in PUBG?

Enabling or disabling crossplay in PUBG on consoles is a straightforward process. Here is the detailed step-by-step guide for both PlayStation and Xbox:

1. Open the Main Menu: Start the game and navigate to the main menu.
2. Access Settings: Select the ‘Settings’ option from the main menu.
   

   

3. Navigate to Gameplay Settings: Scroll across to the ‘Gameplay’ tab.
   

   

4. Enable/Disable Crossplay: Select ‘Cross Platform Play’ and set it to ‘Enable’ to activate crossplay or ‘Disable’ to turn it off.
   

   

↪ Additional Notes

• Default Setting: Crossplay is enabled by default on PlayStation consoles. However, on Xbox, it is disabled by default and must be enabled manually.
• Crossplay Identification: When crossplay is enabled, you will be able to identify players from different consoles through the UI, including kill feeds, death boxes, custom match lobbies, and while spectating.
• Cross-Party Play: This feature allows you to invite and play with friends across different consoles. You can find all these options on the Social screen, accessible by pressing the ‘View’ button (Xbox) or the ‘Square’ button on PlayStation while in the main menu screen.

By following these steps, you can easily manage your crossplay settings in PUBG on both PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

READ MORE: Does GTA 5 Support Crossplay with Console & PC in 2024? ➜

5 Great Crossplay Alternatives to PUBG

If you’re a PUBG fan looking for games with strong crossplay capabilities, here are 5 excellent alternatives to consider:

1. Apex Legends

Apex Legends is a thrilling battle royale game set in the Titanfall universe. It features a diverse cast of unique characters, each with their own special abilities, making for dynamic and strategic team-based gameplay.

Apex Legends supports full crossplay between all platforms, allowing you to squad up with friends no matter what device they’re using. The game’s fast-paced combat, impressive visuals, and regular content updates have made it a hugely popular battle royale option.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC

2. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

The Call of Duty franchise has embraced crossplay with Warzone 2.0, the latest iteration of its free-to-play battle royale mode. Warzone 2.0 delivers the same high-octane, polished shooter experience that Call of Duty is known for, but with the added benefit of seamless crossplay between consoles and PC.

Whether you’re playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC, you can jump into matches and compete against players across all platforms.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC

3. Fortnite

Fortnite is the undisputed king of the battle royale genre, and it also happens to have excellent crossplay functionality. In fact, it’s the game that started the crossplay trend convincing the historically stubborn Sony to allow crossplay with not only PC but also other consoles and mobile devices.

Players on any platform (except Apple’s) can squad up and battle it out in Fortnite’s vibrant, ever-evolving world. The game’s building mechanics, diverse range of modes, and constant stream of new content make it a fantastic choice for those seeking a robust crossplay experience.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS

4. Rocket League

Rocket League is a unique sports game that combines soccer with high-powered, rocket-powered cars. What sets it apart is its full crossplay support, allowing players on different platforms to compete against each other seamlessly. The game’s addictive gameplay, satisfying physics, and thriving competitive scene make it a great choice for those looking to enjoy crossplay with friends.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC

5. Minecraft

Minecraft is a timeless sandbox game that has embraced crossplay in a big way. Players on consoles, PC, and mobile devices can all join the same servers and worlds, fostering a truly unified Minecraft community. Whether you’re building elaborate structures, exploring vast landscapes, or battling mobs, Minecraft’s crossplay capabilities ensure you can do it all with your friends, no matter their platform of choice.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile

These five games offer robust crossplay experiences that rival PUBG’s, allowing you to enjoy multiplayer adventures with your friends across different platforms. Give them a try and experience the joy of seamless, cross-platform gaming.

READ MORE: 21 Good Ass Browser Games to Try in 2024 – All Genres ➜

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, folks – the scoop on PUBG’s crossplay capabilities in 2024. As we’ve seen, the game has made some strides in this department, but there are still some limitations and technical hurdles to overcome.

The good news is that PUBG does allow for crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox consoles, so players on those platforms can squad up and battle it out together. This has helped maintain a healthy player base across the different console versions of the game.

However, the long-awaited dream of PC-to-console crossplay remains elusive. The differences in controls, performance, and potential for cheating have made it a challenge for the developers to implement this feature in a balanced way. For now, PC and console players will have to enjoy PUBG separately.