Palworld Crossplay: Letting Xbox, PS5, Steam & Game Pass Players In
Palworld dedicated servers are crossplay — but only for the platforms you explicitly allow. This one setting is the most common reason a friend "can't find" or "can't join" your server. Here's how it works on your Connect server.
Where to Set It
Open the World Settings tab and find Crossplay Platforms under Saves & Platform. You'll see four toggles:
- Steam — Steam PC players
- Xbox — Xbox console and Game Pass / Microsoft Store PC players
- PS5 — PlayStation 5 players
- Mac — Steam players on macOS
Turn on every platform your group uses, Save, and restart the server.
Xbox Is the Norm, Not the Exception
If anyone in your group is on Xbox, Game Pass, or the Microsoft Store version of Palworld, you must enable the Xbox toggle — even the PC Game Pass copy connects through Xbox Live, not Steam. The vast majority of servers we host run with Xbox enabled, so if you're setting up for a mixed friend group, turn it on from the start. Lock the server to Steam only and you'll silently block every Game Pass player.
How Players Actually Join, by Platform
Enabling a platform decides who's allowed; how they connect still differs:
- Steam / Mac — can use Connect via IP with your
IP:port, or find you in the browser. IP is the reliable option. - Xbox / PS5 — cannot enter an IP. Consoles join only by finding your server in the in-game community server list (search the exact name) or via an invite.
So for a console friend, two things must be true: their platform is enabled here, and they can see the server in the list. If they can't, restart the server and, if it still doesn't appear, contact support.
Safe Combinations
Any combination works — there's no risk in enabling all four. If you're unsure who plays what, turning on Steam + Xbox + PS5 covers almost everyone. The only reason to disable a platform is to deliberately keep those players out.
Same Version, Every Platform
Crossplay also needs everyone — server included — on the same game version. Platforms don't always receive a patch at the same moment, so if one side of your group suddenly can't join right after an update, check versions before touching anything else. Your Connect server picks patches up on restart; the full detail is in how to update a Palworld dedicated server.
Self-Hosting? The Flag and Ports Consoles Need
On a Connect server, community-list visibility is handled for you. If you run your own box, two things put you in the list consoles search:
- Launch the server with the
-publiclobbystartup flag — without it, the server never appears in the community browser, and consoles have no other way in. - Forward UDP 8211 (game traffic) and UDP 27015 (the community list) to the server.
One editing caution: on disk the platform list is CrossplayPlatforms=(Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac) inside the giant OptionSettings line — the only common Palworld value that itself contains commas, on a line where one stray character breaks the boot. Keep the parentheses matched and back the file up first; automated config tools are known to chop exactly this value apart.
Going Deeper
Running mods on a mixed-platform server? See which Palworld mods actually work — it covers the crossplay column specifically. And if a specific player still can't get in once platforms are set, work through players can't join.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palworld Game Pass count as Steam or Xbox?
Xbox. Both the Xbox console and the PC Game Pass / Microsoft Store version use Xbox Live, so enable the Xbox platform for them — a Steam-only server locks them out.
Can Steam and Xbox players play Palworld together?
Yes. Enable both Steam and Xbox in Crossplay Platforms (both are on by default) and they can share the same server.
Can console players join my server by IP?
No. Xbox and PS5 can't enter an IP — they must find your server by name in the in-game community server list. Only Steam and Mac can connect by IP.
Why can my PC friends join but not my console friends?
Almost always one of two things: the Xbox or PS5 toggle isn't enabled, or the server isn't visible in the community list consoles search. Enable the platform, restart, and have them search the server's exact name. Remember PC Game Pass players count as Xbox, not Steam.
Do mods work in Palworld crossplay?
No. Console and Game Pass players can't load PC mods, so a modded server has to run vanilla for crossplay. See mods on your server.