Is The Forest cross platform in 2026?
No. The Forest does not support crossplay or cross platform multiplayer. PC and PlayStation players cannot join the same session. Multiplayer is limited to same-platform co-op only. Endnight Games released The Forest on PC in April 2018 and PS4 in November 2018, and no update has added cross platform compatibility since.
TL;DR – The Forest Crossplay Status
Crossplay: Not supported
Consoles: Same-platform only
Mobile: No mobile version
Cross-save: Not supported
Cross-generation: PS4 saves run on PS5 through backward compatibility.
Crossplay vs Cross-Platform vs Cross-Save in The Forest
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Cross-platform availability | Yes (PC and PS4) |
| Crossplay | No |
| Cross-save | No |
The Forest is available on more than one platform, but that availability does not translate to crossplay. PC and PS4 run completely separate multiplayer systems. Your saves stay locked to whichever platform you bought the game on, with no migration tool or cloud sync between Steam and PSN. Games like Fortnite and Among Us handle this differently, but The Forest was built before crossplay became a standard expectation.
Which Platforms Can Play The Forest Together?
Here’s how multiplayer actually works in The Forest:
| Platform Combination | Can Play Together? |
|---|---|
| PC / Mac / Linux | PC only (Steam) — no Mac or Linux version |
| PC ↔ Console | No |
| PlayStation ↔ Xbox | No (not on Xbox) |
| Xbox ↔ Switch | No (not on either platform) |
| Mobile | No mobile version |
PC co-op supports up to 8 players through peer-to-peer connections, or more through dedicated servers. The PS4 version caps at 4 players due to performance constraints. If your group is split between PC and PlayStation, there is no way to play The Forest cross platform together. The same limitation applies to titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Black Ops 3, both of which launched before the crossplay wave that started in 2018.
What Is the Best Platform for The Forest?
PC is the strongest option for The Forest. It has the larger player cap, active modding community, and VR support through Steam. PS4 still holds a solid player base, and PS5 owners can run the PS4 version with shorter load times. For a broader look at how cross platform gaming has changed since 2018, most newer survival games now include crossplay at launch.
FAQs
Is The Forest cross platform between PC and PS4?
No. PC and PS4 run separate servers. You cannot play The Forest cross platform between these two systems. Each platform operates independently with no shared matchmaking.
Does The Forest have crossplay in any form?
No. There is no crossplay in The Forest between any platforms. Multiplayer only works between players on the same system. This applies to both online co-op and dedicated server play.
Can you play The Forest on Xbox or Nintendo Switch?
No. The Forest is only on PC (Steam) and PS4. Endnight Games never released it for Xbox, Switch, or mobile. The sequel, Sons of the Forest, launched on PC only.
Will The Forest ever be cross platform?
Unlikely. Endnight Games shifted focus to Sons of the Forest after 2018. No crossplay patch has been announced, and active development on the original game ended years ago. Unlike titles such as Fortnite, The Forest was not built with cross platform infrastructure.
Is The Forest co-op cross platform on PS4 and PS5?
PS5 runs the PS4 version through backward compatibility, so PS4 and PS5 players share the same multiplayer pool. This is cross-generation play within the same console family — not true crossplay between different platforms. Ghost Recon Breakpoint and Stardew Valley work the same way on PlayStation.