Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has captivated millions of players worldwide with its immersive MMORPG experience set in the rich universe of Tamriel. As the game continues to grow in popularity, one common question among players arises: Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform? With more gamers using different consoles and PCs, cross-platform play is becoming a crucial feature for online games. In this full 2025 guide, we will dive deep into the current state of cross-platform play in ESO, what platforms are supported, and what the future may hold.
What is elder scrolls online cross platform?
Before answering the main question, Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform?, it’s important to understand what cross-platform play actually means. Cross-platform play (or crossplay) allows players on different hardware systems—such as PC, Xbox, and PlayStation—to play together in the same online game world. This feature breaks down the barriers between platforms, creating a unified player base, which is especially important for MMO games like ESO.
Is Elder Scrolls Online Cross Platform in 2025?
So, is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform? The short answer: ESO currently supports partial cross-platform play, but with important restrictions.
As of 2025, Elder Scrolls Online offers cross-platform play between Xbox and PlayStation consoles, meaning players on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 can play together seamlessly. However, the PC version remains separated from the console versions, and players on PC cannot play with console players or vice versa.
Crossplay on Consoles: Xbox and PlayStation
Bethesda and ZeniMax Online Studios officially enabled cross-platform play between Xbox and PlayStation players in ESO in late 2023. This was a long-awaited update, opening the door for console players to group up, trade, and explore Tamriel together regardless of their console brand.
- Benefits of Console Crossplay:
- Larger player pools for matchmaking.
- Easier to form groups for dungeons and trials.
- Unified trading economy on consoles.
- Cross-save support within consoles (more on that below).
- Larger player pools for matchmaking.
What About PC Players?
Despite the crossplay between consoles, PC players are still isolated from the console ecosystem. If you’re playing ESO on PC (Windows or Mac), you can only interact with other PC players.
Why is PC excluded from crossplay? The main reasons cited by developers include:
- Technical differences: PC offers keyboard and mouse controls, whereas consoles primarily use controllers.
- Performance balancing: PCs generally have higher frame rates and graphical capabilities.
- Community preferences: Many PC players prefer to play only with PC users.
Cross-Save Support in ESO
While cross-platform play remains limited, ESO offers robust cross-save support across all platforms. This means that players can transfer their characters and progress between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Key points about ESO cross-save:
- You can start playing ESO on one platform and continue on another with the same account.
- Cross-save works between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
- However, cross-save does not mean crossplay; even if your progress is shared, you still cannot play with friends on different platform types (PC vs. consoles).
What Platforms Can You Play ESO On?
To understand the scope of cross-platform play in ESO, it helps to know which platforms the game is available on:
- PC: Windows and Mac
- Consoles: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Cloud Gaming: Available on some services, but crossplay is still limited
How Does ESO Cross-Platform Play Affect Gameplay?
For players wondering Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform? and how it affects their gameplay experience, here are some benefits and limitations to keep in mind:
Benefits
- Larger player base on consoles due to Xbox-PlayStation crossplay.
- Easier to find groups and participate in endgame content.
- Increased social interaction with friends on different consoles.
- Cross-save allows you to switch between platforms without losing progress.
Limitations
- No PC-to-console crossplay.
- No shared economies between PC and console players.
- Potential performance and control scheme differences still exist between platforms.
Future of Cross-Platform Play in Elder Scrolls Online
The demand for full cross-platform play—including PC and consoles—is growing across the gaming community. Many players frequently ask: Will ESO ever be fully cross platform?
While Bethesda has not officially confirmed plans to implement full crossplay between PC and consoles, the trend in the gaming industry suggests it could be a possibility in the future. MMO games like Fortnite and Call of Duty have already embraced full crossplay, setting a precedent.
For now, ESO continues to focus on improving cross-save and console crossplay features. Players should stay tuned to official announcements for updates.
How to Enable Cross-Platform Play in Elder Scrolls Online?
If you are a console player wondering How do I enable ESO cross-platform play?, here’s what you need to know:
- Crossplay between Xbox and PlayStation is automatically enabled.
- You do not need to manually turn on any settings.
- You can add friends from the other console via your ESO Friends List using their account name.
- Grouping, trading, and chatting are seamless across these consoles.
For PC players, since crossplay isn’t available, no action is needed.
Tips for Playing ESO Cross Platform
If you want to get the best experience from ESO’s cross-platform features, here are some practical tips:
- Use ESO Account Names: Always share your ESO account name, not just your console friend code, for cross-platform friend requests.
- Communicate Clearly: Cross-platform parties can use in-game voice chat or external apps like Discord for smoother coordination.
- Mind Control Differences: Console players use controllers, PC players use mouse/keyboard. Understand these differences in PvP or competitive play.
- Keep Your Game Updated: Crossplay features often depend on having the latest patch.
Is Elder Scrolls Online Cross Platform? Summary
To summarize:
- Yes, ESO is cross platform between Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
- No, ESO is not cross platform between PC and consoles.
- Cross-save is available for all platforms, allowing character progress sharing.
- The feature enhances multiplayer experiences on consoles but remains limited on PC.
FAQ
1. Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform between PC and consoles?
No, PC players cannot play with console players in ESO as of 2025.
2. Can Xbox and PlayStation players play together in ESO?
Yes, ESO supports crossplay between Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
3. Does ESO support cross-save?
Yes, ESO supports cross-save across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, allowing you to continue your progress on different platforms.
4. How do I add friends on a different console in ESO?
You can add friends using their ESO account name via the in-game Friends List.
5. Will ESO have full cross-platform play including PC?
There is no official confirmation yet, but the demand is high and it could be considered in the future.
6. Is ESO cross platform on next-gen consoles?
Yes, crossplay works on both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles.
7. Does cross-platform play affect game performance?
No significant performance differences occur due to crossplay itself, but platform hardware differences remain.
8. Can I trade items across platforms in ESO?
You can trade between players on Xbox and PlayStation, but not between PC and console players.
9. How does crossplay impact ESO’s PvP mode?
Console crossplay allows players on Xbox and PlayStation to compete together, but PC players remain separate.
10. Do I need to pay extra for cross-platform features in ESO?
No, crossplay and cross-save features are included with your ESO game purchase.
Final Thoughts
The question Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform? remains one of the most important for MMO gamers in 2025. While ESO has taken big steps by enabling Xbox and PlayStation crossplay and offering cross-save across platforms, PC players are still left out of full cross-platform gameplay. This partial crossplay still greatly benefits console players and makes teaming up easier than ever.
If you want to experience ESO with your friends on different consoles, you can do so now, but PC players will have to wait a bit longer for that full integration. For the latest updates, keep an eye on official Bethesda announcements and patches.