Deep Rock Galactic (DRG) has been praised for its intense cooperative gameplay, blending action and strategy as players take on dangerous missions in procedurally generated caves. But as gaming becomes more connected, many players wonder about its crossplay capabilities. Is Deep Rock Galactic crossplay, and how does it impact the gaming experience across platforms? Let’s dig into what makes this co-op shooter such a popular choice and its crossplay features.
Crossplay
The simple answer: yes, but with some caveats. Deep Rock Galactic does support crossplay, but it’s not universal across all platforms. Let’s break it down.
Platforms
Deep Rock Galactic is available on multiple platforms, including:
PC (via Steam and Microsoft Store)
Xbox (including Game Pass)
PlayStation
However, not all these platforms allow players to team up with others seamlessly. The key issue lies in the difference between PC platforms.
Steam vs. Microsoft Store
PC players who bought the game on Steam and those who downloaded it through the Microsoft Store (or Game Pass) are playing slightly different versions. Unfortunately, crossplay is not available between these two PC versions. This means if you’re playing on Steam, you can’t join your friends who play through the Microsoft Store, and vice versa.
This split is often confusing for players expecting universal PC crossplay. The reason for this divide lies in how the game is distributed and updated on these different platforms, causing a separation in the servers.
Xbox and PC
One of the most notable crossplay features in DRG is between Xbox and Microsoft Store PC players. Those who play on Xbox consoles and PCs via the Microsoft Store/Game Pass can team up, making it easy for players on these platforms to enjoy the game together.
For Xbox players, this crossplay ensures they can hop into a game with their PC friends with minimal hassle. It’s a huge bonus for Xbox Game Pass users, allowing them to easily connect with a broader community of players.
PlayStation
For PlayStation players, the situation is a bit different. PlayStation consoles, including PS4 and PS5, do not have crossplay enabled with Xbox or PC versions. PlayStation users can play with others on the same PlayStation network, but that’s the extent of their crossplay experience. For now, the PlayStation community remains separate from the Xbox and PC crossplay ecosystem.
Co-op Focus
Even without full crossplay across all platforms, Deep Rock Galactic’s gameplay is highly co-op focused. Teams of up to four players can band together to take on missions, and the game shines when friends work together, combining their skills to survive the alien-infested caves. The crossplay options, limited as they may be, still offer significant flexibility for Xbox and Microsoft Store PC players, ensuring that the cooperative nature of the game is intact.
Cross-Save
Crossplay often brings up the question of cross-save functionality. DRG does offer some level of cross-save between Xbox and Microsoft Store versions, allowing players to move their progress between these platforms. This ensures that players can switch between Xbox and PC without losing their hard-earned upgrades and progress.
Unfortunately, there is no cross-save between Steam and other platforms. So, if you’ve invested time into the Steam version and want to play on Xbox or Microsoft Store, you’ll have to start from scratch.
The Future
Many fans hope that Deep Rock Galactic will eventually expand its crossplay capabilities. As the gaming industry continues to push for more cross-platform connectivity, it’s possible that we may see more integration in the future, allowing for universal crossplay between all versions of the game, including PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox.
The developers, Ghost Ship Games, have hinted at potential updates but have not confirmed any major crossplay expansions beyond the current setup. However, the demand is certainly there, and with the gaming landscape shifting towards more inclusivity in crossplay, it’s not out of the question that we’ll see more robust options down the line.
Graphics
One thing that remains consistent across platforms is the core gameplay experience. While there may be differences in graphics between PC and consoles, the visual style of Deep Rock Galactic ensures that it runs smoothly on all platforms. PC players benefit from higher-resolution graphics and customizable settings, while console players enjoy optimized controls and steady performance, even during intense moments of gameplay.
The game’s art style, a mix of cartoonish charm and gritty realism, translates well across different hardware. Whether you’re playing on a high-end gaming PC or a console, Deep Rock Galactic maintains its visual appeal and keeps performance steady.
Player Experience
Despite the crossplay limitations, Deep Rock Galactic delivers a unified gameplay experience across all platforms. The core elements – intense combat, teamwork, and exploration – remain the same whether you’re playing on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. The game is designed to immerse players in its dangerous, alien-infested caves, and the thrill of working together with teammates transcends the platform you’re playing on.
For many, the partial crossplay setup between Xbox and Microsoft Store PC players is enough to enjoy the game with friends. However, the Steam and PlayStation players’ inability to join in can feel limiting. That said, the game’s thriving community, which spans across these platforms, ensures that there are always players to team up with, even if crossplay doesn’t fully unite everyone.
Conclusion
In the end, Deep Rock Galactic does offer crossplay, but it’s not as comprehensive as some players might hope. While Xbox and Microsoft Store PC players can team up seamlessly, Steam and PlayStation players are left out of the crossplay loop for now. Despite these limitations, the game remains one of the most enjoyable co-op experiences available, with its fast-paced action, teamwork-driven gameplay, and procedurally generated missions offering endless replayability.
As crossplay becomes more prevalent in modern gaming, it’s possible that Deep Rock Galactic will continue to evolve, potentially expanding its crossplay capabilities. For now, though, players on Xbox and Microsoft Store PCs can enjoy the thrill of deep-space mining and monster slaying together, while others will need to stay within their platform’s community.