PC, Xbox, PS5 — Who Can Play Together in Sea of Thieves and How to Control It

Sea of Thieves launched as an Xbox exclusive in 2018, expanded to PC, and arrived on PlayStation 5 in April 2024 with Season 12. At every stage, crossplay has been a core part of the design — Rare built the game around the idea that platform boundaries shouldn't prevent crews from sailing together.

Platform Compatibility

• PC (Steam, Xbox App, Microsoft Store) and Xbox (One, Series X|S) have been crossplay-compatible since launch
• PlayStation 5 joined the crossplay ecosystem in April 2024
• All three platform groups can play together seamlessly

Progress synchronization exists between PS5 and Xbox, so your pirate carries over if you switch between those consoles. However, platform-exclusive cosmetics don't transfer.

Controlling Crossplay: Platform-Specific Settings

Xbox: From the main menu, go to Settings → Matchmaking → set "Prefer Xbox Players with Controllers" to Yes. This is a preference, not a hard filter.

PlayStation 5: Settings → Matchmaking → toggle "Allow Crossplay" to Off, or set "Prefer Controllers" as a middle ground. Disabling crossplay restricts you to PS5-only players, which can increase matchmaking times.

PC: Crossplay cannot be disabled. PC players are always in the cross-platform pool.

Why Cross-Platform Sessions Can Feel Unstable

Crossplay itself doesn't cause lag. But when players from different platforms and regions connect to the same session, the network conditions become more varied. The game's networking model means the host's connection quality matters disproportionately.

Keeping Crossplay Sessions Smooth

Choose your host wisely. The player with the most stable connection should host.

Use wired connections. Wi-Fi introduces variability that's especially problematic in sessions where multiple platforms are trying to stay synchronized.

Close bandwidth-heavy applications. Streaming services, downloads, and cloud sync running in the background compete with Sea of Thieves for bandwidth.

Optimize your routing path. GearUP Booster analyzes available routes and selects the most efficient path for your game traffic. It's particularly useful in crossplay scenarios where the session spans distant regions.

For console players who prefer a hardware solution, HYPEREV provides the same routing optimization through a dedicated gaming router.