No Cross-Platform Play Yet, but Far Cry 5 Still Delivers Co-Op Fun
As an avid Far Cry fan, one of the most common questions I see pop up is: "Can you play Far Cry 5‘s multiplayer modes across different platforms?"
The short answer is: Unfortunately, no cross-play functionality currently exists between the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC versions. But that doesn‘t mean you can‘t still enjoy hours of chaotic co-op with friends on the same platform!
A Summary of Multiplayer and Cross-Play Capabilities
Here‘s a quick rundown of what Far Cry 5 does and does not support in regards to playing with others:
- In-game multiplayer limited to same-platform online co-op
- Full story campaign can be played cooperatively
- No adversarial PvP modes – co-op only
- No cross-platform play between PS4, Xbox One, and PC
- Far Cry 6 added cross-gen play between console families
So while you can‘t squad up with buddies across platforms, you can still join forces within your platform of choice to liberate Hope County.
Delving Into Far Cry 5‘s Co-Op Strengths
Far Cry 5‘s approach to co-op play combines the sensation of conquering outposts and slaying cultists with a second layer of camaraderie.
As soon as the intro wraps up, the multiplayer options open up. Extending an invite to a friend or calling for a randomized ally through matchmaking takes mere seconds. Soon you‘ll be strategizing, scavenging, and fending off waves of enemies together.
Some key things to know:
- Seamless open world play without borders
- Shared progression and rewards
- Revive downed teammates
- Recruit "Guns for Hire" partners
- Coordinate tactics verbally or via in-game chat
Roaming the countryside and tackling story beats alongside a friend makes the experience richer and more entertaining. The feeling of tackling a heavily guarded outpost in stealthy sync with a co-op buddy, for example, is extremely gratifying.
While limited to your platform, the connectivity still brings that special spark of social play.
Far Cry 6 Opens the Cross-Play Floodgates
When Far Cry 6 released in 2021, it expanded the multiplayer functionality by introducing two key features:
- Cross-generation play – Players on both old and new consoles can matchmake together. This means PS5 and PS4 users play side by side for example.
- Cross-progression – Switching platforms while retaining your overall game progress.
This hints at an exciting future where multiplayer communities grow larger, no longer fragmented by platform. Early adopters jump to new consoles while latecomers stick to legacy systems. Cross-gen play in Far Cry 6 unites them all in chaotic harmony.
The team at Ubisoft seem to have acknowledged the appetite for playing together across platforms. I anticipate they‘ll continue improving connectivity in future releases.
Reading the Tea Leaves for Far Cry 7
Though purely speculation at this stage, I expect the next mainline Far Cry to once again up the ante for multiplayer functionality.
My dream scenario is full cross-play matchmaking between PlayStation, Xbox, PC and even Stadia players in one unified battlefield. Continuous progression whenever I switch from my couch console to my shiny gaming rig.
Reports indicate Ubisoft has multiple Far Cry projects in development – one being a spin-off experiment while the other remains a mainline title. This suggests they want to expand the property across different genres and platforms.
Perhaps these mysterious titles will help make my cross-play dreams come true! A fan can hope.
In the meantime, I‘ll continue blasting my way through Hope County and Yara, seamlessly transitioning from solo stealth sessions to rampaging in the jungle with friends. Here‘s hoping Far Cry 7 flat out demolishes platform barriers when it eventually releases!
