Oh “Don’t Starve Together.” It’s one of those games that can suck you in with its weird art style, hard gameplay and survival. You and your friends can team up, strategize and not starve—simple enough right? But what if your friends are on different systems? Does the game allow cross-platform play? Let’s get into this because this is where things get complicated.
What is Cross-Platform?
Before we get too far in, let’s define what cross-platform play means. Think of it like this: you’re on a PS, your friend is on an Xbox and another friend is on a PC. Crossplay would let all of you play together in the same game regardless of what device you’re on. It’s a feature that makes life easier for those friend groups spread across different consoles. Games like “Fortnite” and “Rocket League” have been doing this for a while now and it’s been working great.
Unfortunately crossplay isn’t a given for all games and as it turns out “Don’t Starve Together” has its own way of handling things.
Current State of Cross-Platform Play in “Don’t Starve Together”
So here’s the deal: “Don’t Starve Together” does support crossplay but it’s not a free for all across all devices. If you’re playing on a PC (whether it’s Windows, Mac or Linux) then you’re in luck—PC players can all play together. But if you’re on a console, things aren’t so good. Players on Xbox, PS and Switch are each in their own little bubbles. So if you’re on a PS you can’t join your friend’s game on Xbox or Switch.
Why the restrictions? Well it’s all the technical stuff and business mumbo-jumbo. Different platforms have their own software quirks and regulations and getting them all to play nice together is no easy task. And then there’s the whole licensing and agreements between companies. It’s kind of like trying to get cats and dogs to cooperate—possible but not always easy.
Why isn’t “Don’t Starve Together” fully cross-platform?
You’re probably thinking “If other games can do it why can’t this one?” Fair question. The main reason is a mix of technical hurdles and honestly business decisions. The game’s design has to fit the capabilities of each platform and getting everything to work across different systems is a lot of extra work. And sometimes companies just don’t see the benefit or they have other priorities.
Klei Entertainment the game’s developer hasn’t ruled out full crossplay but there’s no news yet on if they plan to do it. For now they seem to be focusing on keeping the core gameplay solid and that’s no small task.
Future Updates on Cross-Platform Play for “Don’t Starve Together”
So is there hope? Maybe. The gaming world is always changing and developers like Klei are always listening to their fans. There’s been talk of crossplay and gamers aren’t shy about speaking their minds.
While there’s no official announcement yet it wouldn’t be a surprise if crossplay gets considered in the future. Until then we can only cross our fingers and maybe tweet at Klei to nudge them in the right direction.
Other Ways to Play “Don’t Starve Together” with Friends
So crossplay isn’t in the cards for now don’t worry. There are still ways to get your multiplayer fix. For one the game does support local multiplayer so you and a friend can play on the same device using split-screen. If you have a friend over just grab a couple of controllers, get cozy and play together.
Another option is to use game streaming services like Nvidia’s GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming though it’s not a perfect substitute. And if all else fails maybe it’s time to recruit some new friends who play on your platform. (Just kidding.)
Conclusion
So in the end “Don’t Starve Together” is a great game for those who like a bit of challenge, humor and collaboration. It’s a shame full crossplay isn’t available yet but you can still play with friends on the same platform. And who knows the future of gaming is unpredictable and maybe crossplay will come to the game someday.
For now gather your friends (on the same platform), jump into “Don’t Starve Together” and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the next meal… and maybe an update or two.
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