Deep Rock Galactic is more than just a thrilling co-op adventure game; it’s a marvel of design, ensuring players across different platforms can enjoy the game together. The question often comes up among new players or those transitioning between platforms: “Is Deep Rock Galactic crossplay?” The short answer is yes, but there’s more nuance to this feature that makes the game stand out in its crossplay implementation. Let’s dive into what makes Deep Rock Galactic’s crossplay feature unique and how it works across platforms.
Before understanding the crossplay functionality, it’s important to know the platforms Deep Rock Galactic is available on. The game is accessible on:
PC (via Steam and Microsoft Store)
Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
Each of these platforms provides a unique experience tailored to the hardware, but the game’s core mechanics and gameplay remain consistent. Whether you’re mining for resources, fighting off waves of alien creatures, or just enjoying the dark humor the game offers, you’ll experience it all with friends regardless of their platform.
Crossplay is a feature that allows players from different platforms to join the same game session. In Deep Rock Galactic, this feature is available but comes with a few important details that players need to be aware of.
Xbox and Microsoft Store (PC): Players on Xbox consoles can seamlessly play with those who have purchased the game via the Microsoft Store on PC. This setup provides a smooth crossplay experience, ensuring players on Microsoft’s ecosystem can connect without restrictions.
Steam and PlayStation: Unfortunately, Steam players cannot currently engage in crossplay with Xbox or Microsoft Store users. Similarly, PlayStation players are in their own ecosystem and don’t have crossplay with other platforms. This separation might be disappointing for some, but it’s an important detail to keep in mind when setting up multiplayer sessions with friends.
Even with these platform restrictions, Deep Rock Galactic manages to maintain a cohesive gameplay experience. The game was designed from the ground up to be enjoyed cooperatively, and the developers have put in significant effort to ensure smooth performance and synchronization across the platforms that support crossplay.
PC players, for example, can enjoy high-resolution graphics, custom key bindings, and optimized performance settings. Meanwhile, console players benefit from finely-tuned controls and a focus on steady performance, even in the heat of intense gameplay. Regardless of where you play, the game doesn’t feel different in its core experience, which is essential for crossplay to function effectively.
Another question that often arises alongside crossplay is cross-progression—the ability to carry your progress, achievements, and customization across different platforms. Deep Rock Galactic does not currently offer cross-progression, which means if you start playing on Steam, your progress won’t carry over to Xbox or PlayStation. Each platform maintains its own save data and progression systems.
While this might be a minor inconvenience for some, it’s important to weigh it against the benefits of the crossplay feature. Players can still enjoy the game with their friends across supported platforms, even if their personal progress remains tied to a specific platform.
Deep Rock Galactic offers several game modes and mission types, ranging from mining expeditions to rescue operations. The beauty of the game is that these modes are consistently fun, whether you’re playing solo or with friends. Crossplay ensures that players never feel isolated if they can’t find a local friend to join them on their platform of choice.
This inclusivity makes the game more engaging for those who have friends playing on a different platform. By allowing Xbox and Microsoft Store players to dive into missions together, there’s less friction in the multiplayer experience. However, it’s clear that the developer has more work ahead if they want to fully integrate Steam and PlayStation into the crossplay ecosystem.
The developers of Deep Rock Galactic have been very active in updating and expanding the game since its initial release. With each update, they introduce new content, improve performance, and address player concerns. One area of interest for many in the community is whether full crossplay support will be introduced for Steam, PlayStation, and other platforms in the future.
While there’s no confirmed news on when or if full crossplay will be rolled out across all platforms, the developers have shown a commitment to enhancing the game over time. Many in the community are hopeful that this feature will eventually come, especially considering the positive feedback surrounding the current crossplay system between Xbox and Microsoft Store.
Implementing crossplay isn’t always easy, and there are a few challenges that come with it.
Balancing different control schemes: PC players, with their mouse and keyboard setup, may have a slight advantage in terms of precision over console players using a controller. This could lead to frustration if balancing is not handled properly. However, in a cooperative game like Deep Rock Galactic, this issue is less significant since teamwork is the priority over competitive play.
Performance differences: Consoles are generally more stable in terms of performance, but they lack the customization options available to PC players. In some cases, a PC player might be running the game on ultra settings while a console player is limited by the hardware. The developers have done an admirable job ensuring that this doesn’t affect the core gameplay experience, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Server management: Another factor is the technical side of crossplay, particularly server stability. Ensuring that players from different platforms can connect without issues requires robust infrastructure. Deep Rock Galactic has managed to maintain a strong online experience, with minimal reports of server issues, which is a testament to the development team’s efforts.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of Deep Rock Galactic is its community. The crossplay feature has brought players together, fostering a cooperative spirit that aligns with the game’s mission of teamwork. While there are still limitations in the full implementation of crossplay, the players who can use this feature have found it to be a seamless and rewarding experience. There’s a shared excitement every time a new player joins the fold, regardless of their platform.
In the end, Deep Rock Galactic offers a solid, if somewhat limited, crossplay experience. While Xbox and Microsoft Store players can enjoy seamless cross-platform play, Steam and PlayStation users remain in their own ecosystems for now. Despite these limitations, the game’s core design ensures that the experience remains cohesive and enjoyable for all.
Crossplay might not be perfect just yet, but for those who can take advantage of it, it makes Deep Rock Galactic even more fun to play with friends across different platforms. As the game continues to evolve, there’s hope that crossplay will be expanded to all platforms, making it even easier to share this adventure with players around the world.