Yes, Zombie Wasteland Together supports crossplay, but with one critical limitation: console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S can team up, but the PC player base is entirely separate. This means if you're on a console, you can join friends on the competing console, but neither of you can squad up with someone playing on Steam or the Epic Games Store.
This separation creates two distinct multiplayer universes. While it ensures a level playing field within each, it’s a crucial piece of information to have before you and your friends decide which platform to buy the game on. Understanding how this system works is key to getting your co-op sessions started without any friction.
How Cross-Platform Multiplayer Actually Works
The entire system is built around your Wasteland ID, the universal account you create with the developer, Scrapheap Studios. This ID is what allows the game to bypass platform-specific friend lists like PSN and Xbox Live, letting you connect directly with other players within the console ecosystem. When you first launch the game, you'll be prompted to create or link one.
Here’s the simple breakdown of who can play with whom:
| Your Platform | Can Play With PS5? | Can Play With Xbox Series X|S? | Can Play With PC (Steam/EGS)? | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | | PlayStation 5 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | Xbox Series X|S | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | PC (Steam/EGS) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
The key takeaway is that there are two self-contained pools: Console and PC. Within the console pool, PS5 and Xbox players are fully integrated. Within the PC pool, Steam and Epic Games Store players are also fully integrated. However, there is absolutely no bridge between these two pools. This was a deliberate design choice by the developers, not a technical oversight.
Zombie Wasteland Together in-game screenshot
How to Enable Crossplay on PS5 and Xbox
Getting your cross-console squad assembled is straightforward, but it does require a few specific steps in the game’s menus. If you just try to invite friends through your console’s dashboard, you’ll only see players on the same platform. You must use the in-game social hub.
1. Create and Link Your Wasteland ID
If you skipped this during the initial setup, you can access it from the main menu before loading into the game. There will be an option for “Wasteland ID Account.”
- Select this option and follow the prompts to either create a new account with your email or link an existing one.
- This single ID will become your identity across all platforms within the console ecosystem. It’s what tracks your progression, unlocks, and friends list.
2. Activate the Cross-Network Play Setting
By default, crossplay should be enabled. However, if you're having trouble connecting, it's the first thing you should check. The setting is easy to find.
- From the main menu or the in-game pause menu, navigate to Settings.
- Go to the Network tab.
- Ensure the option “Enable Cross-Network Play” is toggled On.
If this is turned off, your game will only see and matchmake with other players on your specific console (PS5 with PS5, Xbox with Xbox), completely defeating the purpose of the feature.
3. Invite Friends Using the In-Game Social Menu
This is the most important step. You cannot use your standard PSN or Xbox friends list to invite someone from another console. You have to add them within Zombie Wasteland Together itself.
- Load into the game and reach the main hub, “The Last Stop.”
- Open the Social menu (by pressing the Touchpad on PS5 or the View button on Xbox).
- Navigate to the Friends tab and select “Add Friend.”
- You will be prompted to enter your friend’s Wasteland ID, not their Gamertag or PSN ID. You and your friends will need to share these IDs with each other.
- Once the friend request is accepted, they will appear on your in-game friends list, and you can invite them to your squad regardless of whether they're on a PlayStation or an Xbox.
Zombie Wasteland Together in-game screenshot
Why Is PC Kept Separate from Consoles?
Scrapheap Studios has been very direct about the decision to segregate the PC and console player bases. The reasoning boils down to three core factors: competitive balance, update deployment, and the cheating landscape.
First and foremost is gameplay balance. The precision of a mouse and keyboard provides a significant aiming advantage over a controller. In a game where headshots on the agile “Griever” zombies are critical, this disparity would be heavily felt. While this matters less in the standard “Wasteland Run” co-op mode, it would completely unbalance the wave-based “Siege” mode, which has competitive leaderboards. Segregating the player pools ensures that all players are competing on a level playing field with similar input devices.
Second is the issue of patching and update cadence. Pushing updates on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store is a relatively fast and simple process for developers. In contrast, patches for PlayStation and Xbox must go through a longer certification process with Sony and Microsoft. This can create delays where the PC version of the game might be on a different patch number than the console versions. If the versions don't match, multiplayer becomes incompatible. Keeping the pools separate prevents these logistical headaches from ever impacting players.
Finally, the developers cited the PC anti-cheat environment. The PC platform is inherently more open, which unfortunately makes it more susceptible to third-party cheating software, trainers, and mods. By keeping the console ecosystem sealed, Scrapheap Studios can provide a more controlled and cheat-free environment for PlayStation and Xbox players, which is a major priority for maintaining the game's long-term health.
Zombie Wasteland Together in-game screenshot
Does Cross-Progression Exist?
Yes, but just like crossplay, it only works within the same ecosystem. Zombie Wasteland Together features robust cross-progression for your Wasteland ID account, but only between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
This means if you start playing on a PS5 and level up your survivor, unlock new weapon schematics, and build out your base at The Last Stop, all of that progress will be waiting for you if you log into the same Wasteland ID account on an Xbox Series X|S (assuming you own the game on that platform). Your character level, inventory, and even story progression are tied to your account, not your console.
However, this progression does not carry over to or from PC. The PC universe is a clean slate. If you play on PC, your progress is saved to your Wasteland ID for use on either Steam or the Epic Games Store, but it will never appear on a console, and vice versa.
Frequently Asked Questions about ZWT Crossplay
Can I play Zombie Wasteland Together between Steam and the Epic Games Store?
Yes. The PC player pool is fully unified. As long as you and your friends are all on PC, it doesn't matter which storefront you purchased the game from. You will use the same in-game Wasteland ID system to add friends and squad up.
Will PC and console crossplay ever be added?
It seems unlikely in the short term. Developer Scrapheap Studios has stated they are "aware of the community's request" but have no active plans to merge the player pools. They have consistently cited competitive balance and the different anti-cheat environments as major obstacles that would require significant re-engineering to overcome.
Does my DLC transfer between PlayStation and Xbox?
No. DLC purchases, like the "Vulture's Ascent" expansion, are tied to the platform's storefront (PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store) where you bought it. However, any gear, weapons, or schematics you unlock from that DLC will be available on the other console thanks to cross-progression. You just need to own the base game on both platforms.
How do I find my Wasteland ID?
Your full Wasteland ID, which is usually your chosen username followed by a hash and a series of numbers (e.g., Survivor#1234), is always displayed in the Social menu. You can find it in the bottom-right corner of the screen when you're in that menu at The Last Stop hub.
The Final Verdict
Zombie Wasteland Together's approach to crossplay is a practical compromise. For the vast majority of players on PlayStation and Xbox, it works seamlessly, uniting the console community in a way that feels great. The use of the Wasteland ID is simple and effective.
However, the complete separation of the PC community is a significant drawback for anyone with friends spread across the PC/console divide. While the reasons for this split—fairness, patch management, and cheating—are valid from a development perspective, it’s still a barrier to the dream of a truly unified player base. Knowing this limitation upfront is the most important part of getting into the game.