Is ARC Raiders Crossplay? Complete Guide for Players

For players diving into the intense extraction shooter landscape, knowing whether you can team up with friends on other systems is essential. If you have been wondering "Is ARC Raiders crossplay?", you have come to the right place to get the definitive answer.

Embark Studios has designed this title to be a highly social experience, and understanding the connectivity options is the first step toward dominating the map. Whether you are a console loyalist or a PC enthusiast, this guide covers everything you need to know about cross-platform play and maintaining your progress.

Understanding Crossplay in ARC Raiders

The short answer is yes: ARC Raiders features full crossplay support across all major platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This means you can squad up with your friends regardless of the hardware they use.

When you enable this feature, the game’s matchmaking system pools players from all platforms together. While this leads to faster lobby queues and more diverse squad compositions, it also means you will be facing a wider variety of skill levels and input methods.

Key Crossplay Features at a Glance

How to Enable or Disable Crossplay

While having a wider pool of players is generally beneficial, some users prefer to stick to their own platform’s ecosystem to avoid the potential competitive advantages of mouse and keyboard players. You can easily toggle this setting to suit your preference.

To manage your crossplay settings:

1. Open the Main Menu and navigate to the Settings (gear icon).
2. Look for the Online tab.
3. Locate the Crossplay toggle and switch it to your desired state.

Tip

Strategic Matchmaking If you find yourself struggling against PC players, turning off crossplay will restrict your matchmaking to only those on your specific console who have also disabled the feature. Keep in mind that this may result in longer wait times for your raids.

Connecting with Friends: The Embark ID System

Because the game supports cross-platform play, standard platform-specific friend lists (like PSN or Xbox Live) are not enough to connect with everyone. Instead, the game utilizes the Embark ID system to bridge the gap between systems.

Steps to Add Friends Across Platforms

1. Open the party menu by clicking the + icon above the play button.
2. Select Manage Your Embark ID in the bottom-left corner to view your unique handle and four-digit code.
3. Share your ID with friends, or ask for theirs.
4. Click the Add Friend button in the top right of the party menu.
5. Enter their full Embark ID (e.g., Name#1234) to send a request.

According to player reports, once you have successfully added a friend via their Embark ID, they will appear in your in-game social list, making it seamless to invite them to your squad for the next raid.

The Advantage of Cross-Progression

One of the most praised features of ARC Raiders is its robust cross-progression system. If you own the game on multiple platforms, you do not need to worry about starting from scratch.

Your character, gear, and unlocks are linked directly to your Embark account. This means you can grind for loot on your PC during the day and continue your progress on your console in the evening without losing a single item.

Comparison of Connectivity Benefits

Matchmaking Dynamics and Competitive Balance

A common concern among players is whether crossplay creates an unfair environment. Because there is no input-based matchmaking, console players using controllers may encounter PC players using a mouse and keyboard.

While PC players generally have the advantage of precision aiming, console versions utilize aim assist to help bridge the gap. However, some players prefer to disable crossplay to ensure a level playing field. It is important to note that the game currently does not support keyboard and mouse on consoles, so if you are on PS5 or Xbox and turn off crossplay, you can be certain that every player in your lobby is using a controller.

Warning

Performance Considerations Enabling crossplay exposes you to a broader spectrum of network performance and potential software modifications on the PC side. If you prioritize a consistent, "console-only" experience, keep your crossplay settings disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is ARC Raiders crossplay enabled by default?

Yes, crossplay is enabled by default to ensure you find matches as quickly as possible. You can opt-out at any time via the Online settings tab.

Can I play with friends on different consoles?

Absolutely. ARC Raiders supports full cross-platform play between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Just ensure everyone has their Embark ID linked to invite each other easily.

Does cross-progression work for purchases?

Yes, your progress and account-bound items are tied to your Embark account. As long as you log in with the same account, your gear and unlocks will be available on any supported platform.

Will I be matched against mouse and keyboard players?

Yes, if you keep crossplay enabled, you will be placed in lobbies with PC players. There is currently no filter to restrict matchmaking solely by input device, so disabling crossplay is the only way to avoid PC users.