Is Baldur's Gate 3 Cross-Platform?

Which BG3 platforms can play together?

Patch 8 enables cross-play among PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A host on one supported platform can create a cross-play lobby and invite friends from the others, so a PC campaign can include players joining from either current console family.

Cross-play changes who can enter the same multiplayer campaign; it does not turn a solo character into an independent guest character that can move freely between unrelated campaigns. The host’s campaign save remains the shared adventure, including its quests, party composition, and story decisions.

How BG3 cross-play works

Baldur’s Gate 3 uses the Larian Network to connect friends across different platform networks. Each player must link the platform account they plan to use to a Larian account, then add the other participants through their Larian usernames rather than relying only on a console or PC friends list.

The host opens Multiplayer, selects Cross-Play, and creates a lobby. Friends added through the Larian Network can then appear as available invitees, allowing the host to assemble the party before loading the campaign.

For an existing campaign, cross-play must be enabled for the save used by the host. Larian’s Hotfix #32 guidance states that friends cannot join an existing campaign across platforms unless that save has cross-play enabled, so checking the save setting is important when a newer lobby works but an older campaign does not.

What each player needs before joining

Every participant needs Patch 8 or a later compatible build, a linked Larian account, and cross-play enabled. The platform account must be connected to the correct Larian profile; linking a different profile can leave the expected friends list or campaign progress unavailable.

A cross-platform party also needs a matching mod configuration. Larian’s Patch 8 mod-verification system checks which mods are installed, enabled, and ordered, and it can show an incompatibility window when a player tries to join with a different setup.

For an unmodded campaign, keeping mods disabled across the party removes that compatibility variable. For a modded campaign, the host and guests should align the complete active list before entering the lobby rather than changing mods after the campaign has loaded.

Does BG3 have cross-save and cross-progression?

Yes. Patch 8 includes full cross-platform progression alongside cross-play, so campaign progress can move between supported platforms through the Larian account system. Cross-play and cross-progression solve different problems: cross-play puts different platforms in one multiplayer session, while synced saves let a player continue supported campaign progress on another platform.

A transferred campaign still depends on compatible game content. If a save uses mods, the destination platform and installation must support the required configuration before that save can load correctly. This matters most when moving a campaign between a flexible PC setup and a console setup with a different available mod list.

Cross-platform progression carries the campaign state contained in the save, including character development and story decisions. For readers planning later choices, the BG3 endings guide explains how the campaign’s decisions shape its finale without changing the requirements for cross-platform play.

Why a BG3 cross-play lobby may not work

A missing account link is the first setting to check. Each player should verify that the platform currently running Baldur’s Gate 3 is attached to the intended Larian account, then reopen the cross-play lobby so the Larian Network can refresh the friends list.

An existing save can also block invitations when cross-play was never enabled for that campaign. Load the relevant save through the multiplayer flow, enable cross-play for it, and create the lobby again rather than assuming the global multiplayer setting has changed every older save.

Mod mismatches are another direct cause of failed joins. Compare the host’s and guest’s installed, enabled, and ordered mods in the verification window; a single difference can make the campaign incompatible until the lists match.

If the accounts, save setting, and mods agree, all players should make sure they are running compatible builds. Larian has continued to issue hotfixes after Patch 8, so one installation waiting for an update can prevent the party from entering the same session.

Can local co-op and cross-play be combined?

Patch 8 treats split-screen and cross-play as separate multiplayer configurations, and support can vary by the host device and session setup. The safest arrangement for a mixed-platform party is one platform connection per remote participant, with the host creating the campaign from the Cross-Play menu.

Players building a four-character party should decide who controls each character before starting, because characters remain attached to the host’s campaign state. If the group later continues without one participant, the host manages that absent player’s character within the same save.

Is BG3 cross-platform for a full campaign?

Yes. Cross-play is not limited to isolated battles or a separate mode; it supports Baldur’s Gate 3’s multiplayer campaign across PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Party members can explore, enter turn-based combat, and make story decisions inside the host’s persistent save.

The important condition is consistency: the campaign must have cross-play enabled, every player must use a linked Larian account, and any mods must match. Once those requirements are aligned, the same mixed-platform party can return to the host’s campaign rather than creating a new adventure for each session.

Cross-play does not change the campaign’s combat rules or boss encounters. A mixed-platform group preparing for a difficult late-game fight can use the Raphael strategy guide while keeping the multiplayer save under the same host.