Determining whether Risk of Rain 2 supports cross-platform play depends entirely on the specific combination of devices and storefronts in use. While the gaming industry has moved toward a more interconnected ecosystem, the infrastructure of this particular roguelike remains divided into distinct categories. As of 2026, the short answer is that cross-platform functionality is limited to specific "platform families" rather than a universal bridge between all hardware.

The PC landscape: Steam and Epic Games Store integration

The most robust form of crossplay available in Risk of Rain 2 exists on the PC. Since the game's expansion into the Epic Games Store (EGS), Gearbox implemented a system that allows players on Steam to host and join sessions with those on EGS. However, this is not an automatic background feature. It relies on the Epic Online Services (EOS) backend.

When launching the game on Steam, players are often prompted with a notification regarding crossplay. Enabling this feature in the settings menu is mandatory if you intend to play with someone on a different PC storefront. The technical trade-off involves the game switching its matchmaking logic from Steam's native API to the EOS framework.

One nuance to consider is that when crossplay is enabled on Steam, the game’s social interface changes. You may need to link your Epic account to invite friends directly, or use the lobby ID system to bypass manual friend lists. It is also worth noting that many long-time players have reported slight differences in lobby stability when switching between native Steam matchmaking and the crossplay-enabled mode. If a group is composed entirely of Steam users, turning this feature off is frequently suggested to ensure the most stable connection possible.

Console cross-generation support vs. true cross-platform

In the realm of consoles, the situation is defined by cross-generation compatibility rather than cross-brand play. Risk of Rain 2 operates within the following parameters:

  • PlayStation Ecosystem: Players on PlayStation 5 can seamlessly play with those on PlayStation 4. The game treats these as the same environment, though the PS5 version benefits from faster load times and more stable frame rates during high-intensity late-game loops.
  • Xbox Ecosystem: Similarly, the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One families are fully compatible. A player on a Series X can host a lobby that includes friends on an original Xbox One without any additional configuration.
  • Nintendo Switch: This version remains largely isolated. Due to the significant hardware differences and the specific optimizations required to run the game on handheld hardware, the Switch version does not support play with any other platforms.

Despite the frequent requests from the community, true cross-brand play—such as an Xbox player joining a PlayStation lobby—remains unsupported in 2026. This lack of connectivity extends to the PC-to-console bridge as well. If you own the game on PC and your friends are on a console, there is currently no functional method to join the same match.

Technical hurdles and the versioning gap

The absence of full cross-platform support is not merely a policy decision but a reflection of significant technical hurdles. Historically, the PC and console versions of Risk of Rain 2 were developed on different timelines. For a long period, the PC version received updates and DLCs (such as Survivors of the Void and Seekers of the Storm) months before they arrived on consoles.

To facilitate crossplay, every participating platform must be running the exact same version of the game code. In a procedurally generated game where item interactions and enemy scaling are calculated in real-time across four clients, even a minor discrepancy in how a specific item (like the AtG Missile Mk. 1) is calculated could lead to a complete desync of the game state.

Furthermore, the console versions required a substantial rebuild of the game's codebase to ensure parity and performance. This "unified codebase" initiative was a step toward potential crossplay, but the complexities of certifying patches across Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft simultaneously—while keeping them in sync with the more agile PC update cycle—presents a logistical challenge that has yet to be fully resolved.

Cross-save and progression limitations

A common follow-up to the cross-platform query is whether progress can be transferred between devices. As of the current date, Risk of Rain 2 does not support cross-save functionality. Your unlocks, including Survivors, items, skills, and logbook entries, are tied to the specific platform account where they were earned.

For players considering switching from console to PC (often to access the extensive modding community), this means starting from a fresh save file. While the core gameplay loop makes "re-grinding" for unlocks part of the experience, the loss of high-tier achievements and Eclipse level progress is a significant factor for veteran players. The lack of a centralized account system (independent of platform holders) is the primary reason why cloud saves remain locked within their respective ecosystems.

How to navigate multiplayer lobby requirements

If you are attempting to play with others and encountering issues, the first step is verifying the crossplay toggle status. In the multiplayer menu, Risk of Rain 2 often displays a "Crossplay Enabled" or "Crossplay Disabled" status at the bottom of the screen.

A frequent point of failure occurs when a host has crossplay enabled on Steam, but the joining player does not. These two states are treated as separate versions of the game's matchmaking environment. To resolve this:

  1. Both players should navigate to the Settings menu.
  2. Locate the "Enable Crossplay" checkbox (on PC).
  3. Ensure both parties have the same setting selected.
  4. Restart the game to apply the changes to the network backend.

If you are playing within a console family (e.g., PS4 to PS5) and cannot find your friend's lobby, the issue is rarely related to crossplay settings and more likely related to NAT type or version mismatches. Always ensure that the latest system updates and game patches are installed, as console versions require mandatory synchronization to access online features.

The impact of mods on cross-platform play

The PC modding scene is one of the most vibrant aspects of the Risk of Rain 2 community. However, mods introduce another layer of complexity to the crossplay discussion. Almost all mods require all players in a lobby to have the same mods installed (and the same versions of those mods) to function correctly.

Since consoles do not support third-party mods, the possibility of PC-to-console crossplay becomes even more remote when considering the popularity of modded runs. Even within the PC ecosystem, if a Steam user is running a modded client, they will likely be unable to connect with an EGS user unless both have configured their mod managers to account for the EOS backend. For those prioritizing a seamless multiplayer experience across storefronts, playing the "vanilla" (unmodded) version is generally the most reliable path.

Looking toward the future of the franchise

As the game reaches a mature stage in its lifecycle, the focus of the developers has shifted toward maintaining the current experience and releasing occasional content updates. While the community continues to advocate for a "bridge" that connects all survivors regardless of their hardware, the structural changes required to implement this retrospectively are immense.

The current state of Risk of Rain 2 multiplayer reflects a transition period in gaming history. While it successfully bridged the gap between different PC storefronts—a feat that was once rare—the divide between console and PC remains a relic of the technical environment in which the game was originally built. For now, players should plan their purchases and group sessions based on the existing family-locked boundaries to avoid disappointment.

In summary, if you are on PC, you have the flexibility to play across Steam and Epic. If you are on a console, your pool of allies is limited to those within the same brand. While not the universal connectivity many hope for, the current system still provides a wide enough net for most survivors to find a crew and attempt to escape Petrichor V.