Deep Rock Galactic is an immensely popular co-op first-person shooter that takes players on dangerous mining expeditions across alien-infested planets. Developed by Ghost Ship Games, it stands out for its cooperative gameplay, where teams of up to four dwarves, each with unique abilities, work together to complete missions. One of the most frequent questions players have about Deep Rock Galactic concerns crossplay — the ability to play across different platforms. In this article, we’ll dive deep into what crossplay is, how it works in Deep Rock Galactic, and what players can expect moving forward.
Table of Contents
What is Crossplay?
Crossplay refers to the ability of players using different gaming platforms (such as Xbox, PlayStation, or PC) to play together in the same online game. With gaming becoming more interconnected, players want to be able to team up with their friends regardless of the console or platform they’re on. For games like Deep Rock Galactic, crossplay is an especially desirable feature given the cooperative nature of the gameplay.
Deep Rock Galactic: A Cooperative Experience
In Deep Rock Galactic, teamwork is essential. The game offers different classes, each with its own set of skills, meaning players need to rely on one another to survive the hostile alien environments. You play as one of four dwarven miners, specializing in tasks such as drilling, scouting, engineering, and gunning down enemies. The game’s procedural generation ensures that every mission is different, making the teamwork aspect exciting and challenging.
This level of cooperation makes crossplay a hot topic for the Deep Rock Galactic community. After all, if your friends are on different platforms, you’d still want to join forces to tackle these challenging missions.
Does Deep Rock Galactic Support Crossplay?
As of now, Deep Rock Galactic offers limited crossplay support. Crossplay is available between PC players on the Microsoft Store (Windows 10) and Xbox players, as the game is part of the Xbox Game Pass. However, players on Steam (PC) and PlayStation platforms do not have crossplay capabilities with other platforms. This has caused some frustration among players who have friends on different ecosystems.
Here’s a breakdown of crossplay functionality in Deep Rock Galactic:
- Xbox and Windows 10 (Microsoft Store) crossplay: Players on Xbox and PC (via the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass) can seamlessly play together. The saves and progress are also synced across both platforms. This makes it easy for players to switch between the two without losing their progression.
- Steam and PlayStation lack crossplay: Unfortunately, as of now, players on Steam and PlayStation do not have crossplay support. This means Steam users can only play with other Steam users, and PlayStation users can only team up with other PlayStation users.
Why Isn’t Full Crossplay Available?
The lack of full crossplay in Deep Rock Galactic is due to technical challenges and the complexities of integrating different platforms. Ghost Ship Games has acknowledged the demand for full crossplay, but implementing it would require a significant overhaul in how the game’s multiplayer infrastructure is designed.
Each platform has its own set of network protocols and restrictions, and enabling seamless crossplay between them is not always straightforward. Additionally, syncing player data, ensuring smooth communication, and maintaining security across platforms is a complex process.
While the developers have not ruled out the possibility of broader crossplay in the future, it’s unlikely to happen in the immediate term. However, the gaming community continues to advocate for full crossplay support, and Ghost Ship Games is aware of the demand.
Future Possibilities for Crossplay
Though full crossplay is not yet available, the gaming industry has been moving towards greater platform integration. Games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Call of Duty: Warzone have demonstrated that crossplay between all platforms is possible, giving players hope that Deep Rock Galactic might eventually join the ranks of fully crossplay-supported games.
As developers and platform providers like Sony, Microsoft, and Valve (Steam) continue to improve crossplay technology, it’s likely that more games will adopt this feature. Ghost Ship Games has not ruled out the possibility of enabling full crossplay in the future, but no official announcements have been made at this time.
Tips for Crossplay Compatibility
If you’re playing Deep Rock Galactic on a platform that supports crossplay, here are a few tips to ensure a smooth multiplayer experience:
- Use the Same Platform Ecosystem: If you have friends on Xbox or the Microsoft Store, make sure you’re all within the same platform ecosystem for compatibility. Crossplay won’t work between Xbox/Microsoft Store and Steam, for example.
- Ensure Game Versions Are Updated: Different platforms may receive game updates at different times. Make sure everyone in your group has updated their game to the latest version to avoid issues with joining multiplayer sessions.
- Communicate Through Xbox Live or Party Chat: Players on Xbox and Windows 10 can communicate using Xbox Live’s built-in chat features, which work across both platforms. This can help improve coordination during missions.
- Cross-save Capability: If you frequently switch between Xbox and PC (Microsoft Store), remember that your progress is saved across both platforms. This means you can continue your mining missions without starting over.
FAQs About Deep Rock Galactic Crossplay
1. Can I play Deep Rock Galactic with friends on Xbox if I’m on Steam?
No, Deep Rock Galactic does not currently support crossplay between Steam and Xbox. Crossplay is only available between Xbox and the Microsoft Store version of the game on PC.
2. Will full crossplay ever come to Deep Rock Galactic?
While Ghost Ship Games has acknowledged the demand for full crossplay, there are no official announcements or timelines for implementing crossplay between all platforms (e.g., Steam, PlayStation, Xbox).
3. Is there cross-save support between Xbox and PC?
Yes, if you’re playing the game through the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass on PC, your progress will be synced across Xbox and PC, allowing you to continue your game across platforms.
4. Can PlayStation players play with PC or Xbox users?
No, PlayStation players cannot currently crossplay with users on other platforms. PlayStation users are limited to playing with others on the PlayStation network.
5. Why is crossplay only limited to Xbox and Microsoft Store?
Crossplay between Xbox and the Microsoft Store is easier to implement because they both use Microsoft’s online infrastructure, making it technically more feasible than crossplay between entirely different ecosystems like Steam or PlayStation.
6. What platforms is Deep Rock Galactic available on?
Deep Rock Galactic is available on Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and Windows 10 via the Microsoft Store.
Conclusion
Deep Rock Galactic offers a unique cooperative experience that thrives on teamwork and strategic gameplay. While the game currently supports limited crossplay between Xbox and Windows 10 (Microsoft Store), players on other platforms are unable to enjoy cross-platform play. As the demand for full crossplay continues to grow, Ghost Ship Games may explore future possibilities, but for now, players will need to stick to the same platform ecosystems to enjoy multiplayer gameplay together.