If you’ve ever logged into Overwatch 2 on your console only to realize half your friend group plays on PC, you’ve probably asked: can you play cross platform on Overwatch 2? Crossplay has become a non-negotiable feature for most modern multiplayer titles, and Blizzard’s hero shooter is no exception. I’ve tested crossplay across every supported platform over the past year, from Switch to PC to PS5, so I’ll break down exactly how it works, what limitations exist, and how you can start queuing with your friends no matter what device they use.
Can You Play Cross Platform on Overwatch 2 Across All Supported Devices?
The short answer is yes, full cross platform play is supported across every device that can run Overwatch 2. That includes PC (both Battle.net and Steam versions), PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and Nintendo Switch. There are no hidden locks or platform exclusions for crossplay, even for limited-time arcade modes or seasonal events.
Crossplay is enabled by default for all new accounts, so you don’t have to dig through complicated settings to turn it on right out the gate. Blizzard rolled out full crossplay support shortly after Overwatch 2 launched, after years of requests from the community who were tired of being locked to their platform’s player pool. Prior to launch, crossplay was only available in limited beta tests, but now it’s fully integrated into every part of the game.
You can opt out of crossplay if you only want to match with players on your same platform, but that will lengthen queue times significantly, especially for less popular modes like Mystery Heroes or Competitive Open Queue. I tested this out on my Switch a few months ago, and queue times for quick play jumped from 2 minutes to over 10 minutes when I turned crossplay off. It’s only really worth doing if you have a specific reason to avoid cross platform lobbies, like if you’re grinding for a very specific rank and don’t want to deal with mixed input pools.
Step-by-Step to Enable Crossplay and Team Up With Cross-Platform Friends
One of the biggest perks of being able to play cross platform on Overwatch 2 is that you don’t have to buy the game multiple times to play with friends on different devices. The only thing you need to connect with players on other platforms is a free Battle.net account, which you can sign up for in 2 minutes even if you only play on console.
Make sure your Battle.net account is linked to all your platform profiles first before you try to add cross platform friends. You can do this through the Battle.net website by logging in, going to your account settings, and selecting “Connections” to link your PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch profile. Once linked, all your progress, skins, and rank will carry over across every device you play on.
To add cross platform friends, open the social menu in Overwatch 2, click “Add Friend”, and enter their full Battle.net tag (including the 4-digit number at the end). Once they accept your request, they’ll show up in your friend list permanently, no matter what platform they’re logging in from. If you already have friends added on your Battle.net account from other Blizzard games like World of Warcraft or Diablo IV, they’ll automatically show up in your Overwatch 2 social menu, no extra steps needed.
You don’t need a paid console online subscription to play Overwatch 2 crossplay on any platform. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all dropped paid subscription requirements for free-to-play games a few years ago, so you can jump into crossplay lobbies even if you don’t have an active Xbox Live Gold, PlayStation Plus, or Nintendo Switch Online membership. That’s a huge win for casual players who don’t want to pay extra just to play with their friends.
Key Cross Platform Restrictions and Limitations to Know
Crossplay works seamlessly for 99% of use cases, but there are a few small limitations you should be aware of before you jump into a cross platform group. These limitations are small, but they’re worth knowing before you start to play cross platform on Overwatch 2 so you don’t run into unexpected issues mid-session.
- Cross-progression is tied to a single Battle.net account: You can link all your platform accounts to one Battle.net profile, but you can’t merge separate Battle.net accounts to combine skins or progress. If you made a second Battle.net account by mistake when you first started playing, you won’t be able to transfer any of that progress to your main account.
- Competitive play has input-based matchmaking: If you’re on controller (console or PC), you’ll only match with other controller players unless you group with a mouse and keyboard player. This keeps matches fair for both input types, since mouse and keyboard players have much faster aim and reaction times on average.
- Certain platform-exclusive skins won’t transfer across devices: For example, Xbox exclusive cosmetic packs or PlayStation pre-order bonuses won’t show up on your PS5 or Switch account, even if they’re linked to the same Battle.net profile. These skins are tied to your platform account, not your Battle.net account, so they’ll only be visible when you’re playing on that specific device.
- PC players can’t disable crossplay entirely if they’re in a group with console players: You’ll be placed in the crossplay pool automatically, even if you had crossplay turned off in your settings. The same rule applies for console players grouped with PC players – you’ll be pulled into the crossplay pool regardless of your personal settings.
I’ve run into the input matchmaking rule myself when grouping with my PC friend who uses mouse and keyboard. Even though I play on PS5 with a controller, we got placed in the mouse and keyboard queue, and the matches were way more sweaty than I’m used to. It’s a fair rule, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re used to slower, more casual controller lobbies. Another small limitation worth noting is that custom game lobbies sometimes have platform-specific restrictions if the host sets them, but most public custom lobbies are open to all cross platform players.
Tips for Smoother Cross Platform Play Sessions
Most crossplay sessions will work without any issues, but there are a few small tweaks you can make to ensure your games run smoothly and you don’t run into frustrating technical hiccups. I’ve picked up these tips after hundreds of crossplay matches with friends spread across 4 different platforms, and they’ve cut down on my technical issues by almost 90%.
Turn on crossplay voice chat instead of platform chat if you’re playing with friends across devices. Platform-specific chat like PS Party or Xbox Party won’t include friends on PC or Switch, so using the in-game voice channel or a third party app works way better. The in-game voice chat quality has improved a lot over the past year, so it’s more than usable for most groups.
Adjust your crossplay privacy settings if you don’t want to get random friend requests from players on other platforms. You can set your profile to only receive requests from people you know, or turn off friend requests entirely. You can also hide your Battle.net tag from random players in lobbies if you don’t want people to be able to add you after a match.
If you’re a console player queuing with PC players, consider adjusting your aim assist settings to fit the faster pace of mouse and keyboard lobbies. Aim assist is still enabled for controller players even in crossplay lobbies, but you might want to turn it down a bit if you find it’s overcorrecting for faster moving targets. I dropped my aim assist strength from 80 to 60 when I play with PC friends, and it made a huge difference in my accuracy.
If you’re experiencing lag in crossplay lobbies, you can adjust your server selection settings to only connect to servers in your region, which will lower ping significantly. Most of the time lag in crossplay isn’t because of the cross platform feature itself, it’s because you’re connecting to a server that’s too far away. You can find server selection settings under the “Gameplay” tab in the options menu.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you play cross platform on Overwatch 2 is a resounding yes, with very few downsides for casual and competitive players alike. Whether you’re queuing for quick play with a group of friends spread across Switch, PC and Xbox, or grinding competitive ranks on your own, crossplay makes the entire experience more accessible and fun. Just keep the small restrictions and tips we covered in mind, and you’ll be teaming up with your entire friend list in no time.