Both Grounded and Grounded 2 have full crossplay, so PC, Xbox, and PlayStation players can build and survive the backyard together.
The catch is the setup, which differs between the original game and the sequel. We keep this page current against Obsidian's official support docs, last checked August 23, 2026.
Which platforms play together
Here's the full crossplay matrix for both games, taken from Obsidian's cross-platform support pages.
| Platforms | Crossplay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grounded (1): Steam + Xbox + Windows Store | Yes | On by default, with no linking step, per Obsidian's official Grounded account. |
| Grounded (1): PS4 + PS5 + Switch | Yes | Supported once these players link a free Microsoft/Xbox account through Options > Enable Crossplay and an in-game code. |
| Grounded 2: Xbox Series X|S + PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) | Yes | Full crossplay since the July 2025 Early Access launch. |
| Grounded 2: PS5 | Yes | Added August 11, 2026 with the Into the Abyss update; needs a linked Xbox Live account and Enable Crossplay switched on. |
| Grounded 2: Nintendo Switch | No | Grounded 2 has not released on Switch, and Obsidian has announced no Switch date. |
Every current platform of both games can cross-play, with one gap: there's no Switch version of Grounded 2 yet. Grounded is one of our picks for the best multiplayer Xbox games if you want more crews on the console.
Grounded 2 on PS5, and what changed
Grounded 2 is the freshest part of this answer. When it hit Early Access in July 2025, the crossplay pool was Grounded 2: Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) only.
That changed on August 11, 2026, when Obsidian brought Grounded 2 to PS5 alongside the Into the Abyss update. PS5 players now match with Xbox and PC after linking a free Xbox Live account, so any older guide calling Grounded 2 "Xbox and PC only" is out of date.
Grounded 2 still isn't on Switch, and no official release date has been announced. Treat any Switch date you see elsewhere as a rumor until Obsidian confirms it.
Cross-progression and cross-save
Crossplay and cross-save are different things, and people mix them up. Crossplay is playing together across platforms; cross-save is carrying your character and progress between them.
Grounded's cross-save is partial. Deep Rock Galactic uses the same Xbox Play Anywhere link, as our Deep Rock Galactic crossplay guide explains. Progress follows you only inside the Xbox Play Anywhere setup, which means between Xbox consoles and the PC Microsoft Store or Game Pass version through one linked Microsoft account.
Steam saves do not sync with Xbox or the Microsoft Store version. In the original Grounded, PlayStation and Switch saves also stay on their own platform.
For Grounded 2 on PS5, Obsidian's launch post and support article do not document any cross-save path. Until Obsidian states otherwise, treat PS5 progress as staying on PS5.
How to enable crossplay and invite friends
On the original Grounded, Steam, Xbox, and Windows Store players need no setup. Subnautica 2 shares the same Xbox and PC pool for now, as our guide on whether Subnautica 2 is cross-platform covers. Crossplay is already on, so you can host or join straight from the in-game multiplayer menu.
PS4, PS5, and Switch players have one extra step. Go to Options > Enable Crossplay, then link a free Microsoft/Xbox account by entering the code shown and signing in on another device. Only one Microsoft account links per game account.
Grounded 2 uses the same pattern on PS5 and Steam. Link a free Xbox Live account and switch on Enable Crossplay in Options to match with Xbox and PC players, then invite friends from the multiplayer menu.
How to turn crossplay off
There isn't an official off switch. Neither game's support pages document a way to disable crossplay once your account is linked.
The only real opt-out is not linking in the first place. On PS4, PS5, Switch, and Steam, if you skip the Microsoft or Xbox account link, you stay out of the shared cross-platform pool and play only with people on your own platform.
Voice chat across platforms
Neither game runs its own in-game voice chat. Both route voice through each platform's party system: Xbox Live party chat, PSN party chat, Steam voice, or Nintendo's app-based voice. Sea of Thieves handles cross-platform voice more directly, as our guide on whether Sea of Thieves is crossplay covers.
For a cross-platform group, that means coordinating over Xbox Live-linked accounts or a third-party app like Discord. Sort your voice channel before the session so nobody drops out of the conversation.
Setting the record straight
Two stale claims still float around. First, that Grounded 2 is Xbox and PC only, which stopped being true on August 11, 2026 when PS5 joined the pool.
Second, that Grounded shares saves everywhere. It doesn't. Cross-save is limited to Xbox Play Anywhere, and Steam, PlayStation, and Switch progress stays put. Palworld has full crossplay but the same cross-save catch, as our guide on whether Palworld is cross-platform explains.
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