Look, I get it. You just saw a clip of four dwarves screaming "Rock and Stone!" while nuking a Glyphid Dreadnought, and you immediately texted the group chat. You’re on Steam, your cousin is on Xbox, and your best mate is still clutching his PS5 controller. You all want to dig holes and drink space beer together.
But then you go to invite them and... nothing. The invite button is staring back at you like a blank-eyed Loot Bug.
The question of whether is deep rock galactic crossplay isn't a simple yes or no. It’s more of a "yes, but only if you bought it from the right digital storefront." If you’re looking for a quick answer: Deep Rock Galactic is only crossplay between the Xbox console version and the Microsoft Store (Windows) version.
If you're on Steam and trying to play with a PS5 user? Forget it. It's not happening. At least, not officially.
The Great Platform Divide: Why Your Friends Can’t Join You
Honestly, the way Ghost Ship Games set up their networking is a bit of a headache for the average player. Most modern shooters like Call of Duty or Fortnite use their own dedicated servers. They force you to sign into an Activision or Epic account. Because they own the "middle man" server, they can bridge the gap between Sony, Microsoft, and PC.
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Deep Rock Galactic doesn't do that. It uses a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) system.
When you host a game, your computer or console is the server. The game relies on the built-in matchmaking services of whatever platform you’re on. Steam talks to Steam. PlayStation talks to PlayStation. Xbox talks to Xbox.
Because of this, is deep rock galactic crossplay limited to the "Xbox ecosystem." Since the Microsoft Store version on PC uses the Xbox Live framework, those players can dive with people on an Xbox Series X or Xbox One. But Steam? Steam is its own island.
The Current Crossplay Map in 2026
To make it easier to digest, here is how the connections actually work right now:
- Steam Players: Can only play with other Steam players. No exceptions.
- Xbox Console Players: Can play with other Xbox players AND people who bought the game on the Microsoft Store for PC.
- PlayStation Players (PS4/PS5): Can play with each other (cross-gen), but they are totally isolated from PC and Xbox.
It's a bummer. I know. I’ve spent way too much time explaining to friends that they bought the "wrong" version of the game because they grabbed it on a Steam sale instead of the Microsoft Store.
Wait, Can I At Least Move My Save File?
This is where things get slightly better, provided you’re willing to get your hands dirty with some file management. Since is deep rock galactic crossplay limited, many people decide to just buy the game again on the "correct" platform to join their friends.
But who wants to restart a 300-hour promotion grind?
There isn't an official "Cross-Progression" button in the menu. However, if you are moving between Steam and the Microsoft Store (PC), you can manually move your save. You basically have to find your .sav file in the Steam folder, rename it to match the weird string of characters Microsoft uses, and drop it into the AppData folder.
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It’s finicky. It’s unofficial. But it works. Just don't expect to move that save over to a PlayStation. Sony keeps their save data locked in a vault that even a Driller’s reinforced power drills can't get through.
Will We Ever Get "Real" Crossplay?
Don't hold your breath.
The developers at Ghost Ship Games are pretty transparent. They’ve said repeatedly that adding full crossplay would require a massive rewrite of the game’s core engine code. We're talking about moving from a P2P system to a dedicated server model. That costs a fortune.
Plus, there’s the issue of updates. Steam usually gets patches and new Seasons (like the recent Season 05 and beyond) earlier because there’s no "certification" process. Consoles have to wait for Sony and Microsoft to approve every single update. If they had crossplay, the Steam version would have to be held back to wait for the consoles. Nobody wants that.
What About Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor?
If you're wondering about the spin-off, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, the situation is even more restricted. As a single-player "survivor-like" game, crossplay isn't really a thing anyway, and cross-save functionality between the PC version and the mobile port (which launched recently) is currently non-existent. The devs have hinted they’d like to see it, but for now, your progress on your phone stays on your phone.
Actionable Steps for Disappointed Dwarves
If you've realized you and your buddies are on different platforms, you have a few options to fix the situation.
- Check for Sales: If you're on PC, keep an eye out. If you have the Steam version but your friends are on Xbox, wait for a sale on the Microsoft Store. It often drops to under $10. Buying it there lets you keep your PC hardware but join the Xbox lobby.
- The Manual Save Transfer: If you do buy the second PC version, search for the "DRG Save Transfer" tool on GitHub or Reddit. It’s a community-made script that automates the file moving process so you don't lose your overclocks.
- Xbox Game Pass: Remember that Deep Rock is a staple on Game Pass. If you have a subscription, you likely already have access to the "Crossplay-enabled" version on both PC and console.
- Stay on One Platform: If you're just starting out, make sure the whole squad agrees on one storefront. Steam is generally better for mods and early updates, but the Microsoft Store is the only way to bridge the PC/Console gap.
It's not the perfect "everyone plays together" utopia we want in 2026, but as long as you're in the same ecosystem, the mines of Hoxxes are open for business. Now, stop worrying about the menus and get back to the Space Rig. We've got Morkite to mine. Rock and Stone!