If you’ve ever wanted to queue for a Quick Play match with a friend who owns a different gaming system than you, you’ve probably asked can you crossplay on Overwatch 2. Blizzard expanded cross-platform support shortly after the game’s free-to-play launch, but there are still a lot of unspoken rules and restrictions that catch new players off guard. Whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or even the limited mobile beta, this guide breaks down exactly what you can and can’t do with crossplay enabled. I’ve tested crossplay across every platform over the past year, so I’ll also share the small hacks and fixes I’ve picked up for common issues.
Can You Crossplay on Overwatch 2 Across All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, crossplay is supported for almost every Overwatch 2 platform, with very few exceptions. By default, crossplay is turned on for all casual game modes, so you don’t have to adjust any settings to match with players on other devices right out of the box. You can toggle crossplay off in your game settings if you prefer to only play with other users on the same platform as you, which is a popular choice for console players who don’t want to go up against mouse and keyboard users on PC. It’s worth noting that crossplay works across all storefronts on PC too, so players on Battle.net, Steam, and the Epic Games Store can all play together with no extra steps. The only limitation right now is for the mobile beta, which only supports crossplay with other platforms in select invite-only regions.
Key Crossplay Restrictions You Need to Know Before Queuing
While crossplay works seamlessly for most casual modes, there are a few important restrictions that apply to competitive play and party setups. The biggest rule is that competitive mode queues are locked by input type, not just platform. Crossplay is disabled for console-only competitive queues if you have a mouse and keyboard connected, to keep matches fair for controller players. If you’re in a mixed input party (for example, one PC player on mouse and keyboard and one Xbox player on controller), you’ll only be able to queue for casual modes, not ranked play. PlayStation and Xbox users need an active console online subscription to access crossplay, though Nintendo Switch players don’t need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play Overwatch 2 online. All supported crossplay platforms include:
- PC (Battle.net, Steam, Epic Games Store)
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X
- Nintendo Switch
- Overwatch 2 mobile beta (invite-only regions as of current updates)
Many players assume crossplay is only for casual modes, but you can use crossplay for competitive play as long as all party members use the same input type. You also can’t crossplay between different regional servers unless you’re in a party with someone from another region, and the match will default to the server that works best for the majority of the group. That means you might notice slightly higher ping if you’re playing with a friend across the world, but it’s usually manageable for casual modes like Quick Play or Arcade.
How to Set Up Crossplay to Play With Friends on Other Platforms
Setting up crossplay to play with friends only takes a few minutes, as long as you have all your accounts linked properly. First, you’ll need to create a free Battle.net account if you don’t already have one, and link it to every platform you play Overwatch 2 on. This also unlocks cross-progression, so you can carry over your skins, competitive rank, and battle pass progress across any device you use. Once your accounts are linked, you can add friends by searching for their full Battle.net tag (including the 4-digit number at the end), not their platform-specific gamertag. Always make sure your Battle.net display name is spelled correctly when sharing it with friends to avoid adding the wrong user, since there are thousands of similar usernames on the platform. If you’re new to crossplay, you might be confused why you can’t add friends via their PSN or Xbox gamertag, but that’s because all crossplay functionality runs through Battle.net. Once your friend accepts your request, you can invite them to your party straight from your in-game friends list, no extra steps required. If you can’t see a friend on your list, double check that they have crossplay enabled in their game settings, and that they confirmed their account link in their Battle.net account settings. I’ve had multiple friends miss the confirmation email, so that’s the first fix I always recommend if you run into issues.
Pros and Cons of Enabling Crossplay for Overwatch 2
Crossplay is a great feature for most players, but it’s not perfect for every use case, so it’s worth weighing the upsides and downsides before you leave it enabled. The biggest benefit is the much larger player pool, which cuts down queue times drastically for all modes, especially less popular ones like Competitive Open Queue or Arcade modes. You also get to play with all your friends no matter what system they own, which is the main draw for most casual players. That said, there are a few clear downsides to keep in mind. Console controller players often find themselves at a disadvantage against PC mouse and keyboard players, who have faster aim response times and more precise control. Disabling crossplay on console will significantly increase your queue times, especially for less popular modes like Mystery Heroes or Competitive Open Queue, so you’ll have to decide if the tradeoff for fairer matches is worth the wait. If you play on PC with a controller, you can choose to queue with controller-only crossplay groups to avoid M&K players, which is a great middle ground if you prefer controller but don’t want to be stuck with long console queue times. I usually keep crossplay enabled for casual matches when I’m playing with my little brother who uses a Switch, but turn it off when I’m grinding competitive on my PS5 to avoid going up against PC sweats.
So to wrap it up, the answer to can you crossplay on Overwatch 2 is a definite yes, as long as you follow the small restrictions around input type and competitive play. Take a few minutes to link all your platform accounts to your Battle.net profile first, and double check your settings if you run into issues adding friends or joining cross-platform parties. Whether you’re playing casual matches with friends across the world or grinding ranked with a group of controller users, crossplay makes it easier than ever to enjoy the game no matter what device you own.