No, Battlefield V Does Not Have Cross-Play Between Xbox and PC

I can definitively state that Battlefield V currently does not support any form of cross-platform multiplayer between Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. If you purchase BFV for Xbox, you cannot play with friends who have the game on PlayStation or PC. There is no cross-progression either, so unlocks do not carry over between platforms.

Examining Battlefield V‘s Platform Limitations

As an avid Battlefield player myself across both console and PC, I was disappointed Battlefield V did not allow players to squad up regardless of their platform.

Releasing in 2018, some of the likely technical challenges DICE faced in implementing true cross-play for BFV across three distinct platforms included:

• Vastly different performance capabilities – top-tier PCs can run BFV at over 140 FPS on high settings compared to just 60 FPS on standard Xbox One and PS4 hardware. Matchmaking users with such hardware differences could lead to imbalances.
• Controllers vs mouse & keyboard – PC players inherently have more precision aim control with mouse & keyboard controls compared to console gamers using a thumbstick-based controller. Grouping such disparate input methods together could be seen as unfair.

Here‘s a snapshot of Battlefield V‘s major features across platforms:

Given these hardware differences between Xbox One X and high-capability gaming PCs, it‘s understandable why enabling seamless cross-play may have posed issues.

Battlefield 2042 Improves Cross-Play Capabilities

Flash-forward to Battlefield 2042 in 2021, however, and EA DICE implemented cross-play support right out the gate for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. They also enabled cross-play just between PS4 and Xbox One platforms to support subset of last-gen console owners.

In my experience playing BF2042 early on PS5 and PC, the cross-play functionality allowed me to squad up with Xbox-owning friends for the first time. The ability to carry over progression via my EA Account made switching between my preferred platforms simple – leveling up battle pass tiers and unlocking new weapons/gear synced across compatible devices.

Early fan reception to BF2042‘s cross-play features was very positive overall. Finally being able to play with friends regardless of platform preference made a tangible difference in player enjoyment and engagement.

What Does Game Pass Add to the Equation?

While Battlefield 2042 is not available just yet as part of Microsoft‘s Game Pass subscription catalog, both EA and Xbox have stated their intention to add it "later this year" based on their ongoing partnership.

As someone who likes occasionally jumping back into BF2042 for new seasons, but doesn‘t necessarily want to pay $60 every single year for iterative entries, having it included "free" on Game Pass would be a welcome option. At $10-$15 per month, subscribing to Game Pass is just a fraction of purchasing these AAA titles outright.

For example:

• Battlefield 2042 Standard Edition: $60 one time purchase
• 1 Year of Game Pass Ultimate: $180
• Over a 2 year lifespan, Game Pass would likely save me around $100+ even after paying the subscription fees. And that savings figure compounds even more when you account for getting all Microsoft first party games like Starfield, Redfall etc. on release day also included.

How Battlefield Cross-Play Compares to Other Shooters

Here‘s an up-to-date overview on where some of the top multiplayer shooters stand when it comes to cross-platform support:

As we can see, industry titans like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Fortnite are leading the way when it comes to enabling unfied cross-play between competing platforms. This expanded access helps players enjoy these titles with friends even if they prefer Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch etc.

Hopefully after dipping their feet into cross-play support with Battlefield 2042, EA DICE continues expanding the capability even further allowing all Battlefield fans to play together going forward.