Is Valheim Crossplay in 2026? PC and Xbox Explained
Short answer: yes. Valheim has supported crossplay since the Hildir's Request update, and in 2026 it works across every platform the game is sold on. If you are on Steam, the Microsoft Store, Game Pass, or Xbox console, you can all play together in the same world.
Which platforms can play together?
Valheim crossplay covers:
- Steam (PC)
- Microsoft Store / Xbox Game Pass (PC)
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
A Steam player can host a world and an Xbox player can join it, and vice versa. There is no separate "PC-only" or "console-only" matchmaking wall the way there is in some other survival games.
How to join a crossplay game
When you start or load a world, Valheim asks whether to enable crossplay. With it on, the game gives you a join code that any platform can use:
- The host opens their world with crossplay enabled.
- Valheim shows a join code in the in-game menu.
- Friends on any platform open Join Game → Join with code and enter it.
For a persistent world that stays online when the host logs off, you want a dedicated server instead of a player-hosted session.
Does a dedicated Valheim server support crossplay?
Yes. A dedicated Valheim server is the best way to run a 24/7 crossplay world. Players from Steam and Xbox connect to the same server using the server address or join code, and the world keeps running whether or not the host is online. This is the setup most established communities use because it removes the host's PC and connection as a single point of failure.
A dedicated server also gives you:
- A stable address that does not change every session
- Server-side backups of your
.dband.fwlworld files - Room for the full 10-player co-op cap without the host's machine struggling
- The option to add BepInEx mods that everyone loads on join
What you need to run one
Valheim is lighter than ARK or Palworld, but a busy 10-player world with mods still wants real hardware. A dedicated server runs comfortably on 4GB of RAM for a small group, with 6-8GB recommended once you fill the world with structures and players. Fast single-thread CPU and NVMe storage keep world saves quick and stop the periodic autosave from stuttering everyone.
If you would rather not manage a box yourself, our Valheim server hosting runs every world on Ryzen 9 7950X3D hardware with NVMe SSD, DDoS protection, and instant setup. Plans start at 4GB - the real minimum for a stable server - and scale up for larger crossplay communities.
Bottom line
Valheim is fully crossplay in 2026 across PC and Xbox, and a dedicated server is the cleanest way to host a crossplay world that stays online. Enable crossplay, share your join code, and your whole group is in the same Viking afterlife regardless of platform.
Ready to host? → View Space-Node Valheim hosting plans - crossplay-ready, from 4GB, with BepInEx mod support and NVMe SSD.
