Can Steam and Xbox PC Play Together?
The answer is a resounding yes! Many popular games today support cross-platform multiplayer between Steam on PC and Xbox consoles and cloud gaming services. This allows players to squad up and play their favorite titles together across platforms.
As a passionate gamer and content creator, I couldn‘t be more thrilled by this progression. Crossplay capabilities are fostering larger unified gaming communities, enabling friends to play together regardless of their platform of choice.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about crossplay between Steam and Xbox, compatible games, and how to set up epic cross-platform sessions with your friends across PC and Xbox ecosystems. Let‘s dive in!
A Breakthrough in Unified Gaming
Crossplay support has been steadily improving over the last several years, but full integration between major PC storefronts like Steam and Xbox consoles is an exciting milestone.
According to VideoGameChronicle, as of September 2022, Xbox Cloud Gaming rolled out support for playing Xbox Game Pass titles through Steam Deck via Microsoft Edge. This allows Steam Deck owners to stream top Xbox exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite!
Additionally, an Improbable blog post highlights that crossplay capabilities are removing technical barriers and letting friends play together regardless of platform. Key statistics on the value of crossplay include:
- 70% of gamers believe playing with friends is the most important part of multiplayer games
- 57% prefer crossplay to increase player pools and decrease wait times
- 51% have friends that game on a different platform than their own
As crossplay adoption continues rising, we can expect more unified gaming experiences between platforms.
What is Crossplay Between Steam and Xbox?
Now that we‘ve covered why crossplay is so game-changing, let‘s discuss how it enables Steam and Xbox gamers to play together:
Crossplay (or cross-platform play) refers to multiplayer games that allow users on different gaming platforms to squad up and play matches together.
For Steam and Xbox PC crossplay, this means games with the feature allow players on:
- Steam (PC platform)
- Xbox One/Series X/S consoles
- Xbox Cloud Gaming (StreamHandler through browsers/devices)
To all play in the same multiplayer lobbies and gaming sessions together.
Popular Crossplay Games Between Steam and Xbox
Several triple-A games support crossplay between Steam and Xbox platforms. This table outlines some top titles with full crossplay integration:
| Game | Genre | Crossplay Details |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty Warzone | FPS | Full crossplay matches on Verdansk and Fortune‘s Keep maps |
| Dead by Daylight | Survival horror | Join same matches as killer or survivor |
| Dying Light 2 | Zombie survival | Seamless co-op in open world |
| Fortnite | Battle royale | Build and battle across platforms |
| Grounded | Survival | Squad up to thrive in backyard |
| Rocket League | Vehicular soccer | Challenge players in matches |
Plus many more titles like Sea of Thieves, Star Trek Bridge Crew, ARK Survival Evolved, and The Elder Scrolls Online also enable Steam and Xbox crossplay!
Gamers can expect this list to keep expanding as publishers recognize crossplay‘s benefits for player engagement and game longevity.
How to Enable Steam and Xbox Crossplay
Enabling crossplay functionality will vary slightly for each game, but the general process is straightforward:
On Steam (PC):
- Launch game and access Settings
- Navigate to the Crossplay option
- Ensure option is Enabled or toggle On
On Xbox Console/Cloud:
- Launch game and access Settings
- Navigate to the Crossplay option
- Ensure option is Enabled or toggle On
Once enabled…
- Add friends from both Steam and Xbox platforms
- Send invites to friends
- Join same parties/lobbies
- Play matches seamlessly together!
Most games with the feature will include in-game friends lists and parties that span platforms. This enables direct invites and squad matchmaking.
Note: Xbox Live Gold required for online multiplayer on Xbox platforms.
Tips for Playing Across Steam and Xbox Networks
Here are some top tips for taking advantage of Steam and Xbox crossplay:
- Verify games support full crossplay before purchasing. Sites like Co-Optimus denote crossplay capability.
- Understand performance differences – PC offers greater power while Xbox could have aim assist.
- Use in-game voice chat for best coordination across platforms.
- Favor crossplay-friendly genres like co-op PvE or battle royale. Competition in PvP games may feel uneven.
- Add crossplay friends using handles rather than numerical IDs where possible for convenience.
The Future of Unified Gaming Looks Bright
Steam Deck compatibility with Xbox Game Pass streaming represents the tremendous progress being made around cross-ecosystem play.
As a passionate gamer, I find this incredibly exciting. Crossplay mechanics are removing barriers, connecting players across platforms, and steadily improving representation for multiplayer titles.
While some kinks around skill levels and mechanics parity across networks still need to be ironed out, the future looks bright for unified gaming experiences between Steam, Xbox, and beyond. I can‘t wait to see what innovative developments are on the horizon!
Now get out there, enable crossplay in your favorite supported titles, and game on with your pals regardless what platform they prefer. The multiplayer arena is now more accessible than ever before to PC and Xbox gamers alike!
What crossplay games are you looking forward to squad streaming? Let‘s connect in the comments!
