Palworld Crossplay: Connect Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Mac

Since v0.5.0, Palworld has supported crossplay between Steam, Xbox Series X|S, the Windows PC version from the Microsoft Store, PlayStation 5, and Mac. The platforms can play together, but they do not all use the same join path: Xbox and PS5 require a community server and the community server list; the normal dedicated-server path uses IP address and port.

What Palworld crossplay supports since v0.5.0

The current Pocketpair About server page lists Steam, Xbox/Microsoft Store PC, Mac, and PS5 as crossplay platforms and explicitly requires a community server for Xbox and PS5. Configure for community server specifies the -publiclobby launch option. According to the configuration reference, CrossplayPlatforms defaults to (Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac); AllowConnectPlatform is no longer available.

A Nintendo Switch version is not available in the baseline state of this guide and is therefore not listed here as a supported platform. Likewise, you should not equate crossplay with cross-save: this guide covers joining a server together, not transferring local saves between platforms.

Supported platforms at a glance

Crossplay removes the barrier to playing together, but it does not make the join path identical. If joining fails, first check whether Xbox or PS5 is connecting through a community server started with -publiclobby; then check version, server name, IP/port, and password.

Requirements before inviting players

For a clean crossplay session, you first need a running Palworld server. At game-serverhosting, you use paid multi-game hosting with technical control over the server data, a traceable dashboard status, and support if you get stuck during setup or operation.

Select Palworld as the game in the order wizard and set up the desired number of players. If you are just getting started, the guide Rent and Set Up a Palworld Server helps with the basic configuration. For later fine-tuning of world and server parameters, Optimize Palworld Server Settings is the right companion.

Set up the crossplay server

1. Start the server and wait for the status

Start the Palworld server in the dashboard and wait until it is shown as ready. Only share the connection details once the server has fully started. Trying to join too early can easily lead to misinterpretations because players then suspect a crossplay problem, even though the service is simply not reachable yet.

2. Share IP, port, and password

Share the IP address, port, and password with players whose client supports direct connections. Give Xbox and PS5 players the exact server name and password instead; they join through the community server list.

3. Match game versions

Version parity is the most important technical point. Server and clients must use the same Palworld version. Example: if the server is running on 0.5.1, but an Xbox client is still on 0.5.0, joining may fail even though crossplay is supported in principle.

Updates do not appear on every platform at exactly the same local moment for the player. Downloads can pause, consoles can cache old installation states, and a client may not have updated in the background yet. Have affected players close the game completely, check platform updates, and restart the console or PC if needed.

4. Decide on community server visibility

Enable COMMUNITY_SERVER whenever Xbox or PS5 players need to join. In the game-serverhosting panel, the switch adds -publiclobby and publishes the server in the community server list. It must also be enabled for a generally public listing.

Running without a community listing only makes sense for groups using clients that support direct connections. Once Xbox or PS5 is involved, community-server mode is a technical requirement, not merely a visibility option.

Check the result

Do not test the server only with a Steam client. Ask at least one player from each platform you actually use to join the server. Check these points:

• Do the server and all clients use the same Palworld version?
• Is COMMUNITY_SERVER enabled for Xbox or PS5?
• Can console players find the exact server name in the community list?
• Do IP and port match for direct connections?
• Is the password correct?

If all players can join, crossplay is set up correctly. For larger groups, you should also monitor load. You will find notes on memory and performance in Palworld Server Performance and RAM.

Troubleshooting

Connection failed despite the right platform

Crossplay enables shared play but does not remove platform-specific join paths. On Xbox and PS5, check community-server mode first; then compare server and client versions and restart the game or device if needed.

The server does not appear in the community browser

Check that COMMUNITY_SERVER is enabled, -publiclobby is set, and the server has fully restarted. Then allow time for the list to update. Direct IP is not a fallback for Xbox or PS5.

One player gets in, another does not

Compare the correct details for each platform: IP, port, password, and version for direct connections; server name in the community list, password, and version for Xbox and PS5.

The password is rejected

Set the password again in the panel and avoid special characters during testing that are easy to enter incorrectly on consoles or different keyboard layouts. Then share the new password freshly with all players.

Checks, limits, and a safe rollback path

The guide “Palworld Crossplay: Connect Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Mac” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of review. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. Therefore, do not transfer values to another game, loader, or server version without checking them.

Before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions, create a backup of the affected files. Then change only one related step and test it with the same client and server version you want to play with later.

A successful single test is not a guarantee of performance or availability. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network path, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document the version, change, and test result so you can trace later differences.

FAQ

Does Palworld have crossplay between Steam and Xbox?

Yes. Steam and Xbox players can play together. Xbox players must join a server published as a community server; a blanket direct-IP instruction for both platforms is incorrect.

Can PS5 players play on the same server as PC players?

Yes. PS5 is a supported crossplay platform, but joining requires a community server deployed with -publiclobby.

Does Palworld crossplay also work with Mac?

Yes. Mac is listed as a supported platform in the current Pocketpair documentation. Use the dedicated-server join path offered by the client and keep the server and client on the same version.

Do I have to activate crossplay separately on the server?

CrossplayPlatforms allows Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Mac by default. In addition, Xbox and PS5 joins require the server to start as a community server with -publiclobby; in the game-serverhosting panel, COMMUNITY_SERVER does this.

Why does joining fail after an update?

Most of the time, the server and client are not running the same version. Update both sides, close the game completely, and restart the device on consoles if needed.

Is there Palworld crossplay with Nintendo Switch?

No. In the baseline state of this guide, there is no supported Nintendo Switch version, so Switch is not listed here as a crossplay platform.