Can Console Players Join a Rented Game Server? (Xbox, PS5, Switch)

Console players can join a rented server only in games whose developers built crossplay into the dedicated server, such as ARK: Survival Ascended, Palworld, Valheim, 7 Days to Die, Arma Reforger and Minecraft Bedrock Edition. In most of those, crossplay is a server setting you have to turn on, and it often comes with limits like no mods. Many other games, including Minecraft Java Edition, Rust and DayZ, keep console players on a separate server network that ordinary hosts cannot run. Check your game before you buy a server for a mixed group.

Why it depends on the game

A dedicated server is just a program. Whether a console can reach it depends on three things the developer controls:

Whether the console version can see community servers at all. Some console versions only list official or partner servers.
Whether the server and console use the same online service. Crossplay usually runs through a shared login and matchmaking layer such as Epic Online Services.
Whether the console version matches the PC server version. Console patches sometimes arrive days after PC ones.

The host has no control over any of this. A host can only run the server the developer provides and expose the crossplay setting.

Games where consoles can join a rented server

Game	Platforms on one server	What you need to do
Minecraft Bedrock Edition	Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile	Nothing on the server. Consoles need a workaround to add a custom server
ARK: Survival Ascended	PC, Xbox, PS5	Crossplay is on by default. Console players use mods from CurseForge
Palworld	Steam, Xbox, PS5, Mac	Set the crossplay platforms setting on the server
Valheim	Steam, Xbox, Game Pass	Start the server with crossplay on, players join by code or address
7 Days to Die	PC, Xbox, PS5	Crossplay setting on, Easy Anti-Cheat on, no mods, 8 player limit
Arma Reforger	PC, Xbox, PS5	List the platforms in config.json and use console compatible mods

Each of these has its own guide with the exact settings:

The Minecraft Bedrock catch

Bedrock servers accept every platform, but Xbox, PlayStation and Switch do not have an "Add Server" button in the Servers tab. Only Featured Servers appear there. Players on consoles reach a custom server by one of these routes:

Joining through a friend on Windows or mobile who is already on the server.
Using a community DNS based server list tool.
Using a tool that makes the server appear as a joinable friend in the Friends tab.

None of those are official, and they change over time, so check the current method before promising your console friends anything. Windows and phone players can add the server directly.

Games where consoles cannot join

Minecraft Java Edition only exists on PC. Console players need Bedrock, so a mixed group should run Bedrock, or a Java server with the Geyser plugin, which lets Bedrock players join Java. See Minecraft Java vs Bedrock server.
Rust on console is a separate game version with its own servers. PC servers cannot accept console players.
DayZ on Xbox and PlayStation uses separate console servers, available only through an official partner program. PC servers cannot accept console players.
Conan Exiles console players play on official servers or rented console servers from partners, not on PC servers.
Terraria has no crossplay between PC and console versions. See Terraria crossplay on a dedicated server.

The list changes as developers add crossplay, so check the game's official patch notes for the current state.

Common limits on crossplay servers

When crossplay is possible, it often comes with conditions:

No mods, or only approved mods. Consoles cannot load arbitrary files, so many games turn crossplay off when mods are installed. ARK: Survival Ascended and Arma Reforger are exceptions with console friendly mod systems.
Anti-cheat must be on. 7 Days to Die requires Easy Anti-Cheat for crossplay.
Lower player caps. 7 Days to Die limits crossplay servers to 8 players.
Version timing. If PC gets a patch before consoles, the server may need to stay on the older version until console players catch up.
Console privacy settings. Xbox and PlayStation accounts need cross network play allowed in their system settings, and child accounts often block it by default.

Checklist for a mixed PC and console group

Confirm the game supports crossplay on dedicated servers, not only on hosted co-op sessions.
Find the crossplay setting and turn it on before anyone builds.
Decide if the group can live without mods.
Have every console player check their cross network play setting.
Join from one console first to prove it works, then invite everyone.

Hosting a crossplay server with us

GamezServers runs the official dedicated server for each game, so whatever crossplay the developer supports is available, and every setting from the game's server template is in the control panel. We have pages for Minecraft Bedrock crossplay servers, Palworld crossplay servers and Valheim crossplay servers. Servers go live within about a minute of paying, and friends on any platform can split the bill.

A Palworld base with Pals working, a game where Xbox, PS5 and Steam players can share a server

A Minecraft Bedrock village at sunset

FAQ

Can PS5 players join a PC game server?

Only in games with crossplay on dedicated servers, such as ARK: Survival Ascended, Palworld, 7 Days to Die and Arma Reforger, and only when the server has crossplay enabled.

Can Xbox players join a Minecraft server?

Xbox players can join Bedrock servers, but the Xbox version has no button to add a custom server, so they need a workaround or a friend already on it. They cannot join Java servers unless the server runs Geyser.

Why can my console friends not see my server?

Usually crossplay is off on the server, the server has mods that block crossplay, the console's cross network play setting is off, or the console is on a different game version.

Can a game server host enable crossplay for any game?

No. Crossplay is built by the game's developer. A host can only turn on what the official dedicated server supports.