It’s no mystery that adding crossplay would make Fallout 76 much more enjoyable since there was no crossplay option at launch. Microsoft has purchased Bethesda since then, so they have much more money to work with; crossplay could be on the horizon.
That said, here’s what you need to know about crossplay in Fallout 76.
Does Fallout 76 have crossplay?
As of now, Fallout 76 does not support cross-platform or cross-gen, so if you own a PlayStation 4, you cannot play with your friend who owns a PlayStation 5. One exception to this rule: those who play on Game Pass can play with those who have the game on Steam.
Bethesda has yet to add cross-play.
Will Fallout 76 eventually get cross-play?
Do not keep your hopes high for any cross-play or cross-platform play in the future. Microsoft owns Bethesda, and they have no reason to let PlayStation gamers play with Xbox gamers. Fallout 76 doesn’t appear to be hurting for players, and Microsoft would only be wise to allow it if it was a financially savvy move.
Although fans may find it strange to keep cross-play off the service, not allowing cross-play benefits the individual consoles rather than the game itself. In addition to encouraging players to buy the version their friend plays to play with them, this will also enable those same people to purchase online services. If you had a friend who has the same game as you on a different platform but has cross-play, you’d have no reason to buy the game on that platform.
In addition, adding a feature like that to the game is expensive, takes a lot of time, and does not have a high demand in the Fallout 76 community. According to Pete Hines of Bethesda, cross-play was not added because it wasn’t on the company’s radar, nor was it desirable to add a feature that would only work on some consoles.
On top of the lack of cross-platform play or crossplay, players can still not utilize cross-progression. So, if you play on several platforms, your leveling will not carry over.
With a game that takes place so far in the past and is chronologically first in the Fallout lore, it seems like a no-brainer to get Fallout 76’s cross-play future up and running, considering the myriad of possibilities to be utilized and brought to fruition for Fallout fans all over the globe.
