If you’ve ever queued for a quick play match on Overwatch 2 while your friend is on PlayStation or Xbox, you’ve probably wondered can pc play with console on overwatch 2. Crossplay has been a core part of hero shooter communities for years, but implementation varies wildly from game to game, and Overwatch 2 has its own set of rules, balance tweaks, and optional settings to make cross-platform play feel fair for everyone. I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Overwatch 2 across both PC and console, so I’ve broken down everything you need to know to play with friends across platforms, avoid frustrating mismatches, and get the most out of your crossplay sessions.
Can PC Play With Console on Overwatch 2: Official Crossplay Rules
The short answer is yes, PC and console players can play together in most Overwatch 2 game modes with no extra paywalls or restricted access. Blizzard enabled full crossplay support for all platforms at Overwatch 2’s launch, including PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Crossplay is turned on by default for all accounts, so you don’t have to dig through settings to enable it unless you’ve turned it off previously.
There are only a few exceptions to this rule. Competitive mode uses input-based matchmaking by default, so PC players (who mostly use mouse and keyboard) won’t be matched against solo console players (who mostly use controllers) in standalone competitive queues. The only time you’ll see mixed inputs in competitive lobbies is if you’re grouped with friends across different platforms. That means if you’re a PC player who queues solo for competitive, you’ll only play against other PC players, regardless of crossplay settings.
It’s also worth noting that custom games have no crossplay restrictions at all. You can set up a custom lobby with any mix of PC and console players, adjust rules to balance for input differences, and even host private tournaments with friends across platforms if you want.
Step-by-Step to Play Overwatch 2 With Friends Across PC and Console
Many new players assume there’s extra work needed to answer can pc play with console on overwatch 2, but the process is far simpler than most other crossplay games. All Overwatch 2 accounts are tied to a Battle.net account, regardless of what platform you play on, so you don’t need to link any extra third-party accounts or use platform-specific friend codes. Follow these steps to group up with cross-platform friends:
- First, make sure all players have their crossplay setting enabled in the gameplay menu (it’s on by default, but double check if you’ve opted out before)
- Ask your friend for their full Battletag, including the 4-digit number after the hashtag, regardless of what platform they play on
- Open the social menu in Overwatch 2, select “Add Friend”, and enter their full Battletag to send a request
- Once they accept your request, select their name from your friends list and click “Invite to Group” to add them to your lobby
- Queue for any non-competitive mode, or competitive mode if you’re okay with playing in a mixed input lobby
Controller players on PC will still be placed in PC lobbies even if they don’t use mouse and keyboard, so if you’re a PC player who prefers controller, you’ll still be grouped with other PC players when you queue solo. If you group with console friends, you’ll all be placed in the PC competitive pool, which is balanced for mouse and keyboard input, so console players may notice a steeper difficulty curve in these lobbies.
So if you’re a console player grouping with PC friends for competitive, it’s a good idea to stick to roles that rely less on fast aim, like support or tank, if you’re worried about keeping up with mouse and keyboard DPS players. I’ve played support on console in mixed lobbies plenty of times, and it’s totally manageable as long as you adjust your positioning to play a little more safely.
Key Differences Between PC and Console Crossplay Lobbies
Blizzard has put a lot of work into balancing crossplay lobbies, but there are still noticeable differences between PC and console play that you should be aware of before jumping into a mixed lobby. The biggest difference is aim assist, which is a feature that helps controller players track moving targets. Aim assist is turned off entirely for PC controller players when matched against mouse and keyboard users, while console controller players keep full aim assist access even in mixed lobbies.
Performance is another big gap. Most mid to high-end gaming PCs can run Overwatch 2 at 144 to 240 FPS, while current generation consoles cap at 120 FPS and older consoles cap at 60 FPS. Higher frame rates on PC let players react to enemy movements 10-20ms faster on average, which can make a huge difference in fast-paced team fights where every millisecond counts. PC players also have access to a wider field of view slider, up to 103, while console players are capped at 90, so PC players can see more of their surroundings without turning their camera.
For example, if you’re playing Tracer on PC, you can see an enemy flanker coming from your peripheral vision 10 degrees earlier than a console player would, which gives you enough time to blink away before taking damage. These gaps are barely noticeable for casual players, but they become very obvious in high-skill competitive lobbies, which is why Blizzard keeps input-based matchmaking for solo competitive queues.
Blizzard does adjust hero balance slightly between PC and console to account for these differences. For example, heroes that rely heavily on precise aim like Widowmaker and Hanzo have slightly lower damage values on console in some patches, to make up for the lower precision of controller input. These changes are rolled out regularly based on player data, so the balance between PC and console is constantly improving.
How to Opt Out of Crossplay If You Don’t Want to Play Against Other Inputs
If you’re a more competitive player who doesn’t want to deal with input mismatches, you can adjust your crossplay settings to only play against players on the same platform or input. Only console players have the option to disable crossplay entirely, while PC players will always be in lobbies that can include console players who have crossplay enabled, as long as they are not in a console-only group.
To disable crossplay on console, head to the gameplay tab in your settings menu, scroll down to the crossplay option, and toggle it off. When crossplay is disabled, you’ll only be matched against other players on the same console family as you, so PlayStation players will only play with other PlayStation players, Xbox players with other Xbox players, and so on. You also won’t be able to join groups with players on other platforms when crossplay is disabled, so you’ll have to turn it back on if you want to play with PC friends later.
Keep in mind that queue times will be longer if you disable crossplay, especially for less popular modes like Competitive Open Queue or Mystery Heroes. If you play a less popular role like tank, you probably won’t notice much of a difference, but DPS players may see queue times double or even triple when crossplay is turned off. If you don’t want to fully disable crossplay but still want more balanced matches, you can stick to solo competitive queues, which always use input-based matchmaking regardless of your crossplay settings.
At the end of the day, the answer to can pc play with console on overwatch 2 is a resounding yes, as long as you’re playing the right modes and have your settings configured correctly. Crossplay makes it easier than ever to play with friends no matter what platform they own, and Blizzard’s balance tweaks have made mixed input lobbies feel far more fair than they did in the early days of the game. If you’re playing for fun with friends, crossplay is a fantastic feature that opens up way more match options and shorter queue times. If you’re a competitive player who wants to avoid input mismatches, you can adjust your settings or stick to input-matched queues to get the most balanced experience possible. Next time your friend asks to group up from their Xbox while you’re on PC, you’ll know exactly what to do to get into a match together in minutes.