Valheim Crossplay: How to Play with Friends on PC and Xbox

Valheim is a co-op survival game where players explore a vast Viking-inspired world, build settlements, battle mythical creatures, and conquer powerful bosses. The game brings a mix of survival mechanics and open-world adventure, and is best enjoyed with friends.

Valheim is all about teaming up with friends, battling creatures, and building epic Viking settlements but what if your friends are playing on a different platform? Can you still play together?

The good news is that yes, Valheim crossplay does exist. But there are a few things you need to know to make it work. Let’s break it down.

How Valheim Crossplay Works

Valheim allows players on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) and Xbox (Series X/S and One) to play together. Crossplay was added in 2022, first letting Steam and Game Pass users connect. When Valheim launched on Xbox, crossplay expanded to console players as well.

However, it’s not full crossplay across all versions. Here’s how it works:

• PC Game Pass and Xbox players can play together easily
• Steam players can play with Xbox, but only if they’re on a dedicated server
• Steam and Microsoft Store (PC Game Pass) versions don’t connect automatically
• PlayStation and Switch versions don’t exist (yet)

So, if you’re on Steam and your friend is on Xbox, you’ll need to use a dedicated server. Otherwise, Game Pass PC and Xbox players can join each other’s games without extra setup.

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How to Set Up a Crossplay Game in Valheim

If you want to start a crossplay session, here’s what to do:

1. Create a new world in the ‘Select World’ menu and give it a name.
2. Before launching the game, check the ‘Crossplay’ option.
3. Set a password if you want to limit access.
4. When your world starts, a ‘Join Code’ will appear in the pause menu.
5. Share the code and password with friends so they can join.

If everyone is on Xbox or Game Pass, they can connect right away. If you’re on Steam, you’ll need a dedicated server to play with Xbox users.

How to Join a Crossplay Game in Valheim

If someone else is hosting a crossplay session and you want to join:

1. Open Valheim and go to ‘Join Game.’
2. Click on ‘Join Code.’
3. Enter the code and password.
4. You’re in.

Make sure everyone has updated their game to the latest version to avoid connection issues.

Crossplay on Xbox

If you’re playing on Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One, crossplay is enabled by default.

• You can join any Game Pass or Xbox-hosted world using a Join Code.
• You can play with Steam players if they’re using a dedicated server.

One downside is that Xbox players can’t host dedicated servers. That has to be done from a PC.

Using a Dedicated Server for Crossplay

Want a world that runs all the time? You’ll need a dedicated server. Here’s how to set one up for crossplay:

1. If you’re using Steam, add the “-crossplay” launch option when starting a dedicated server.
2. Start the server and make sure the Join Code is visible.
3. Xbox, Game Pass, and Steam players can all join using the code.

When browsing for servers, look for a shuffle icon next to the server name—that means crossplay is enabled.

Common Crossplay Issues and Fixes

Even though crossplay works well, some players run into issues. Here are a few fixes:

• If you can’t connect to a server, make sure crossplay is enabled in the settings, check that everyone is on the latest update, and restart the game if needed.
• If auto-pickup isn’t working on Xbox, try holding the left bumper and clicking the left thumbstick to turn it back on.

Final Thoughts

Valheim’s crossplay makes it much easier to play with friends across PC and Xbox, even if it’s not a full crossplay experience yet.

To sum it up:

• PC Game Pass and Xbox players can play together with no issues.
• Steam players can play with Xbox, but they need a dedicated server.
• Crossplay makes multiplayer more accessible, but there are still some limitations.

So grab your axe, build your longhouse, and get ready for some epic co-op Viking action, no matter what platform you’re on.

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