Borderlands 3 has crossplay between PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Mac and PC on both Steam and the Epic Games Store. It runs through Gearbox’s SHiFT Matchmaking, so every player needs a free SHiFT account and a Crossplay Display Name, and crossplay has to be switched on when the game asks. The Nintendo Switch version isn’t on Gearbox’s crossplay list, and your characters don’t carry over between platforms.
The platform list comes from Gearbox’s Borderlands 3 crossplay support article, last updated in July 2026, and is current as of October 2026.
Which platforms does Borderlands 3 crossplay work on?
Every platform except Switch can play together. PlayStation was the late arrival, which is why older articles and forum posts still say otherwise.
| Platform | Crossplay | Since |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) | Yes | June 24, 2021 update |
| Mac | Yes | June 24, 2021 update |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | Yes | June 24, 2021 update |
| PS4 and PS5 | Yes | June 1, 2022 update |
| Nintendo Switch (Ultimate Edition) | Not listed by Gearbox | Not applicable |
The first crossplay update landed on June 24, 2021 (Gearbox announcement) and left PlayStation out, as VGC reported at the time. PS4 and PS5 joined almost a year later: the June 1, 2022 patch notes, reproduced by MP1st, added “support for PlayStation Crossplay with other platforms.” The Switch version arrived on October 6, 2023 with local and online co-op (Nintendo Life), but neither Gearbox’s crossplay page nor 2K’s Borderlands Collection FAQ includes Switch in the crossplay platforms.
How to turn on crossplay in Borderlands 3
You choose on first launch. Gearbox’s support page says the game shows an opt-in window where you enable or disable crossplay, and you have to set a Crossplay Display Name either way.
- Update the game and launch it. If asked, sign in to or create your SHiFT account.
- In the crossplay opt-in window, choose to enable crossplay.
- Pick a Crossplay Display Name. It must be unique, 3 to 16 characters long and start with a letter; letters, numbers and single underscores, hyphens or periods are allowed.
- Have your friends on other platforms do the same, then invite or join each other as you normally would.
Want a new name later? Open Social from the main or pause menu, switch to the SHiFT tab and edit the Crossplay Display Name under Account Details, or change it on your SHiFT account page on the web (Gearbox support).
If you turned crossplay down at that first prompt, Gearbox’s pages don’t spell out where to change it afterwards. Look through the game’s Options for the crossplay setting before assuming it’s locked.
What players ask about Borderlands 3 crossplay
“Can I play on PS5 with a friend on PC?”
Yes, now. Someone asked exactly this on the GameFAQs Borderlands 3 board, and the one reply explained that an update in early June had opened crossplay to all platforms after PlayStation had been left out. That matches the June 1, 2022 patch.
“Why wasn’t PlayStation included at first?”
For a while, it really wasn’t. A GameFAQs thread titled “No Crossplay” from before the PlayStation patch is full of PlayStation players stuck without their Xbox and PC friends, and replies pointed to the publisher, rather than Sony directly, telling Gearbox to drop it. None of that matters today, but it’s why you’ll still find “Borderlands 3 isn’t crossplay on PS4” answers online.
“Can I bring my PS4 character to PC?”
Not officially. A player on GameFAQs asking about moving a PS4 character to PC was told that PS4 saves only carry over to PS5. The only other suggestion was third-party save editing, which isn’t supported by Gearbox, so treat it as at your own risk. Gearbox’s crossplay pages don’t mention cross-progression at all.
“Can two of us play split-screen with a third friend online?”
A GameFAQs thread on this got conflicting answers, with one player saying a local friend forced the session to local-only. Gearbox’s Borderlands 3 FAQ settles it: split-screen tops out at two local players, but those two can still matchmake or join online friends for a four-player session.
Crossplay not working? Check these first
Most failed joins come down to session settings, not crossplay itself. These rules come from Gearbox’s Borderlands 3 FAQ:
- Group Privacy Mode is set to Local Only. Change it to Friends Only so friends can join or receive your invite.
- The host isn’t in gameplay. Others can only matchmake into your session once you’re in the game, not sitting in a menu.
- Different playthrough or mode. Players only match with someone on the same playthrough and group mode; Co-operation players won’t match with Co-opetition players.
- Different region. Matchmaking never pairs you with someone outside your region, so random matchmaking with an overseas friend won’t work. Join them directly instead.
- Crossplay wasn’t enabled. Both players need to have opted in and set a Crossplay Display Name.
On PC, the Roster menu also lists your Epic Games Store friends for invites, according to the same FAQ, which is handy if your group is on Epic.
Frequently asked questions
Is Borderlands 3 crossplay between Xbox and PS5?
Yes. Since the June 1, 2022 update, PS4 and PS5 players can play with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players, as long as everyone has crossplay enabled with a SHiFT display name.
Is Borderlands 3 crossplay on Steam and Epic?
Yes. Steam and Epic Games Store players share crossplay with each other and with Mac, Xbox and PlayStation players through SHiFT Matchmaking.
Is Borderlands 3 crossplay on Nintendo Switch?
Not according to Gearbox’s crossplay platform list as of October 2026. The Switch Ultimate Edition supports two-player local and online co-op.
Do you need a SHiFT account for Borderlands 3 crossplay?
Yes. Crossplay runs on SHiFT Matchmaking, which needs a free SHiFT account and a unique Crossplay Display Name of 3 to 16 characters starting with a letter.
Does Borderlands 3 have cross-save?
Not between platform families. Gearbox’s crossplay pages don’t offer cross-progression, and players report that PS4 saves only move to PS5.
Featured image: Gearbox / 2K / official Steam screenshots
