Is The Forest Crossplay? PC and PlayStation Explained
The Forest has no crossplay: PC and PlayStation are separate builds with separate multiplayer and no cross-progression. What PC groups can do instead.
Short answer: no. The Forest has no crossplay. The PC version and the PlayStation version are separate games in every way that matters — separate builds, separate multiplayer, separate saves — and a PC player cannot join a PlayStation game or the other way round.
The short version
PC ↔ PlayStation: no. PC ↔ PC: yes, including on a dedicated server. PlayStation ↔ PlayStation: yes, but console co-op only — there are no PlayStation dedicated servers. There is no cross-progression either: a save made on one platform stays there.
This is not a setting anyone can change, and it is not something a host can work around. If your group is split between PC and PlayStation, The Forest is a game you will have to play separately.
Is The Forest Cross-Platform?
No. The Forest exists on PC (Steam) and on PlayStation, and the two have never been able to play together. The PlayStation version was produced as a separate port and runs a different build; the two share content but not multiplayer.
| Can play with → | PC (Steam) | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | ✓ | ✗ |
| PlayStation | ✗ | ✓ |
Nor is it likely to change. Endnight moved on to Sons of the Forest years ago, and retrofitting crossplay onto a finished game built without it is a large job with no commercial reason behind it.
What You Can Do: A PC Dedicated Server
If everyone is on PC, the picture is much better. The Forest ships a dedicated server on PC, and it is the right way to run anything beyond a casual session.
Hosting from inside the game works, but the world is only alive while the host is playing. A dedicated The Forest server stays up on its own, holds the world, and lets your group build across weeks rather than evenings. It also means nobody's home connection is carrying everyone else.
Everyone needs the same game version
The Forest checks versions on connect. When Steam pushes an update, players who have not restarted Steam will be refused until they do. If one person cannot join and everybody else can, check their version before anything else.
Common Questions
Can PS4 and PS5 players play together?
Yes, within the PlayStation ecosystem — that is one platform family. Neither can reach PC.
Can I rent a PlayStation server for The Forest?
No. The dedicated server exists on PC only. PlayStation multiplayer is player-hosted co-op, so there is no server for anyone to rent you — us included.
Does my save transfer from PC to PlayStation?
No. Saves are per-platform and there is no cross-progression.
Is crossplay coming to The Forest?
There has been no announcement, and the developer's attention has been on the sequel for years. Assume no.
Does Sons of the Forest have crossplay?
No — for a different reason. It is PC-only, so there is no second platform to cross to. Sons of the Forest console commands covers that game's server side.
What to Read Next
- The Forest console commands — the admin commands for your server
- Sons of the Forest console commands — the sequel, if your group is moving on
Made with 💜 by GameServerKings
Playing with friends?
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