Valheim 1.0 Crossplay: What Works & What You Buy Twice

Valheim 1.0 supports full crossplay between PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) and Xbox consoles, letting you play together on the same world regardless of platform. You do not need to buy the game twice if you own it on PC and play on Xbox via Game Pass, but you will need a separate copy if you want to own it permanently on both PC and Xbox. This article explains exactly how crossplay works, what carries over, and where you might end up paying twice.

How Crossplay Works in Valheim

Valheim added crossplay in the Hearth & Home update (September 2021) for PC and Xbox, and it remains fully supported in the 1.0 release. The game uses a unified server system: any player on any platform can join any dedicated server or a friend’s hosted world, as long as the host has crossplay enabled. On Xbox, you can also use the built-in “join game� feature to invite PC players through your friends list, and vice versa.

Crossplay works across:

• Steam (PC)
• Microsoft Store (PC)
• Xbox One
• Xbox Series X|S

There is no platform lock on worlds or characters. A world hosted on a PC dedicated server can be joined by Xbox players, and a world hosted on an Xbox can be joined by PC players. The only requirement is that the host has crossplay enabled in the world settings.

What You Buy Twice: PC and Xbox Copies

If you want to play Valheim on both PC and Xbox, you need to consider how you purchase it. The game is available on:

• Steam – PC only
• Microsoft Store – PC and Xbox (via Play Anywhere)
• Xbox Game Pass – includes both PC and Xbox versions

If you buy the game on Steam, you can only play on PC. If you want to play on Xbox, you must buy a separate copy from the Microsoft Store or have an active Game Pass subscription. However, if you buy the game from the Microsoft Store on PC, you get the Xbox version for free (and vice versa) thanks to the “Play Anywhere� program. This means:

• Steam + Xbox = two purchases (unless you use Game Pass for one).
• Microsoft Store (PC) + Xbox = one purchase, both platforms.
• Game Pass (PC or Xbox) = both platforms included with subscription.

If you already own the game on Steam and want to play on Xbox, you have two options: buy it again on the Microsoft Store, or subscribe to Game Pass. There is no cross-buy between Steam and Xbox.

Character and World Saves: What Carries Over

Your character and worlds are stored locally on your device, not on a cloud server tied to your platform. This means:

• If you play on PC (Steam) and then switch to Xbox, your character and worlds do not automatically transfer.
• If you play on PC (Microsoft Store) and then switch to Xbox, your saves do sync via Xbox cloud saves, because it’s the same account and platform ecosystem.
• If you play on Steam and then switch to Xbox, you must manually move your save files, or start fresh.

There is no official cloud save transfer between Steam and Xbox. You can manually copy your world and character files from the Steam installation folder to the Xbox console, but this is not supported and may break with updates. The only reliable way to keep progress across PC and Xbox is to use the Microsoft Store version on both, or use Game Pass.

Dedicated Servers and Crossplay

Dedicated servers are the best way to play crossplay with many players. You can host a dedicated server on a PC (Windows or Linux) and have both PC and Xbox players join. The server must have crossplay enabled in the crossplay setting in the server config. This is a simple boolean value: crossplay=1 enables it, crossplay=0 disables it.

When crossplay is enabled, the server will accept connections from both Steam and Xbox clients. The server itself does not need to be on any specific platform; it just needs to be a dedicated server executable. You can rent a server from any provider that supports Valheim, and most allow you to toggle crossplay.

One common issue: if you host a world on your Xbox and then try to join it from PC, you must ensure the world is set to “Friends Only� or “Invite Only� and that crossplay is enabled. Otherwise, the PC player may not see the world in the server list.

Common Crossplay Problems and Fixes

Players often run into a few crossplay-specific issues:

• Can’t see friend’s world: Make sure both players have crossplay enabled in their world settings. On Xbox, go to the World tab, select the world, and toggle “Crossplay� to On.
• Server not showing up: If you’re using a dedicated server, ensure the crossplay parameter is set to 1 in the start_server.sh or valheim_server.exe command line.
• Connection timeout: This often happens if the host has a strict NAT or firewall. Port forwarding is required for dedicated servers (default port 2456).
• Voice chat not working: Crossplay voice chat is not supported between PC and Xbox. Use Discord or party chat instead.
• Mods not working: If you use mods on PC, Xbox players cannot join your world unless the mods are server-side and compatible. Most mods are client-side, so they will cause a mismatch.

If you experience persistent issues, try restarting the game and the server, and ensure all players are on the same game version (1.0).

Costs and Game Pass Considerations

The price of Valheim is the same on Steam and Microsoft Store (currently around $20 USD). If you buy it on Steam, you pay once for PC. If you want Xbox, you either pay again or use Game Pass. Game Pass includes Valheim for both PC and Xbox, so if you subscribe, you don’t need to buy the game at all on either platform.

However, Game Pass does not include DLC or expansions that may come later. Valheim’s 1.0 release is the full game, and there is no paid DLC currently. If you cancel Game Pass, you lose access to the game unless you buy it.

If you already own the game on Steam and also have Game Pass, you can play on Xbox via Game Pass without buying the game again. But your Steam character and worlds won’t transfer to the Xbox version.

How to Choose the Right Version for You

Decide based on your primary platform and whether you plan to switch:

• If you only play on PC: Buy on Steam. It has the largest modding community and most dedicated servers.
• If you only play on Xbox: Buy on Microsoft Store or use Game Pass. No need to worry about crossplay.
• If you play on both PC and Xbox: Buy on Microsoft Store (Play Anywhere) or use Game Pass. This gives you one purchase for both, with cloud saves.
• If you already own on Steam and want Xbox: You’ll need to buy again or use Game Pass. Consider if you really need both.

Also consider your friends: if they are on Xbox and you are on PC, crossplay works regardless of where you bought the game. The only difference is save syncing and cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Valheim crossplay between Steam and Xbox?

Yes, crossplay is fully supported between Steam and Xbox. You can join each other’s worlds as long as crossplay is enabled in the world settings.

Do I need to buy Valheim twice for PC and Xbox?

Only if you buy on Steam and also want it on Xbox. If you buy on Microsoft Store, you get both PC and Xbox versions with one purchase. Game Pass also includes both.

Will my character and world transfer from Steam to Xbox?

No, saves are not automatically transferred between Steam and Xbox. You would need to manually copy files, which is not officially supported. To keep progress across both, use the Microsoft Store version or Game Pass.

Can I host a crossplay server on my PC?

Yes, you can host a dedicated server on PC with crossplay enabled. Xbox players can join it as long as the server is set to allow crossplay.

Does crossplay work with mods?

Most mods are client-side and will cause issues when playing crossplay. If you use mods on PC, Xbox players will likely be unable to join. Server-side mods may work but are rare.

Is there a difference in performance between PC and Xbox crossplay?

Performance varies by hardware, but the game is identical in content. Xbox Series X|S have similar performance to a mid-range PC, while Xbox One may have lower frame rates.

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