Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s 2022 RPG that was made in collaboration with Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin. Fans were thrilled to find out that Elden Ring would be released on modern consoles.
After all, they couldn’t wait to see a new open-world game that took elements from FromSoftware’s Souls games and expanded on them. But you may be wondering, are there multiplayer elements to look forward to in Elden Ring, and most importantly, is it cross platform?
Is Elden Ring Cross Platform?
Nowadays, there are more cross platform games than ever. Cross platform games allow your game to be supported across multiple platforms without any issues. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean all games are cross platform, and Elden Ring is among this selection.
Due to the massive scale of Elden Ring, getting the same level of support on all consoles was impossible. So, unfortunately, that means if you have Elden Ring on PlayStation, you won’t be able to play with your friends on Xbox or Windows.
Does Elden Ring Support Crossplay?
Crossplay and cross platform games are actually somewhat different from each other. See, crossplay games allow you to play with anyone regardless of the device they’re using.
Essentially, if you’re playing online, you should still be able to play with one another. However, cross platform is all about the support from different gaming platforms.
See, Elden Ring isn’t a game that supports crossplay. Regardless of how you play your game online, you won’t have full crossplay support.
You can only play online with those with the same console family. Say you’re playing Elden Ring on Xbox; you can still play with anyone who also has an Xbox One or even the next generation.
For a quick answer, however? Elden Ring doesn’t support crossplay. If you want to play online with someone, you need to do so under specific conditions.
Why Doesn’t Elden Ring Have Cross Platform or Crossplay Support?
Ultimately, the answer lies in the budget. FromSoftware doesn’t have the time, nor do they want to spend the budget on cross platform and crossplay support. It’s an expensive route; ultimately, if you look at how big Elden Ring is, it would just be a hassle.
It also takes into account the type of game Elden Ring is. It’s a single-player RPG, and the multiplayer elements were never a major focus. The core gameplay lies in the open-world exploration and story.
FromSoftware recognized that cross platform and crossplay support weren’t vital to their game, but they did incorporate some elements for the players who do want multiplayer support.
Is Elden Ring Cross Gen?
Previously, I mentioned that you could play Elden Ring with anyone with the same console family. That means that Elden Ring does allow cross generation support. When Elden Ring came out, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X were beginning their release.
As these consoles are still new, many players may not have invested in them yet. Therefore, allowing cross generational compatibility was a must.
That means if you bought Elden Ring on PlayStation 4, you could play online with anyone who has it on PlayStation 5. The same can also be said for Xbox One users who want to play online with anyone with an Xbox Series X or S.
While cross generation support doesn’t impact anyone playing on PC, it’s great news for anyone playing on consoles.
How Does Elden Ring Multiplayer Work?
Although Elden Ring is primarily a single-player game, there are multiplayer features that players can still enjoy. For example, say that you’re having difficulty with a really challenging boss; you can summon someone to help fight them alongside you.
If you’ve ever played the Dark Souls games, you’re probably familiar with summoning signs. In Elden Ring, you can use the Furlcalling Finger Remedy to summon players to your game.
If you want to enter another player’s world, you need to make sure that you have a Tarnished Furled Finger. Using these summons, you can enjoy co-op elements that make the game more fun than playing on your own.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some PvP elements. Elden Ring will let you battle other players too.
To summon a player to fight, you just need to use the Duelist’s Furled Finger to leave a bloody red sign on the floor. Then, when a player wants to invade your game, they can use the Bloody Finger.
Of course, you can only access the multiplayer element with these specific items. You can’t access multiplayer with a single button on the menu, and it will only work for those who are playing the same console family as you.
Where Can You Play Elden Ring?
If you want to play Elden Ring, you can play it on:
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series S|X
- Windows PC
Elden Ring is an incredibly popular game. You can either buy a digital edition or a physical one depending on what you prefer.
Will There Be Cross Platform Support In The Future?
If you’ve ever played any of FromSoftware’s previous games, you may find the answer lies here. After all, the Dark Souls series doesn’t have any crossplay or cross platform features despite the audience requesting it.
While their stance could change in the future, I would not hold out much hope.
For now, you have to contend with the fact that Elden Ring isn’t a cross platform game, nor does it support crossplay.
Despite the lack of crossplay and cross platform, Elden Ring does have a 5 star rating on IGN, and many gamers agree. It’s totally worth a single player playthrough.
Final Thoughts
An abridged answer to this question is simple: Elden Ring isn’t cross platform. Elden Ring has a massive world to explore, and FromSoftware doesn’t have a reputation for making cross platform games. Instead, they like to focus on the solo adventure element more than anything else.
If you’re hoping for cross platform support in the future, it’s highly unlikely. After all, FromSoftware has yet to do that for their previous games, such as Bloodborne and Dark Souls. So, you may want to make do without cross platform support.
