The best crossplay racing games for PC and console
The best crossplay racing games for PC and console
Forza Horizon 5, Rocket League, Trackmania, F1 24, Dirt 5, Grid Legends, Need for Speed Unbound, Riders Republic, CarX Drift Racing Online, Crash Drive 3, Trailblazers, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds are the strongest crossplay racing games available to UK players right now. The catch? Crossplay implementations vary significantly across all of them: some offer full PC-to-console matchmaking, others restrict crossplay to same-generation consoles, and cross-progression or cross-platform party support is far from guaranteed. Most are available via Steam, Xbox Game Pass, PS Store, or Epic Games Store.
Quick shortlist:- Forza Horizon 5 — PC, Xbox; full crossplay; Game Pass included
- Rocket League — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch; full crossplay; free-to-play
- Trackmania — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch; full crossplay; free base tier
- F1 24 — PC, PS4/5, Xbox; full crossplay across all online modes
- Dirt 5 — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Stadia; full crossplay; budget price
- Grid Legends — PC, PS4/5, Xbox; full crossplay; EA App/Steam
- Need for Speed Unbound — PC, PS5, Xbox Series; full crossplay; EA App/Steam
- Riders Republic — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Stadia; full crossplay; Ubisoft Connect/PS Store
- CarX Drift Racing Online — PC, PS4/5, Xbox; crossplay with flexible rooms; Steam
- Crash Drive 3 — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile; full crossplay
- Trailblazers — PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch; crossplay supported
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile; crossplay confirmed
Key takeaways
The strongest crossplay racing games for mixed PC and console groups are Rocket League, Forza Horizon 5, and F1 24, but crossplay type, party support, and cross-progression vary across every title and must be checked individually.
| Point | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Verify platform pairs first | Not every game supports PC↔PS crossplay; check the comparison table or Crossplay Checker before buying. |
| Account linking is often required | Rocket League needs an Epic account, Trackmania needs Ubisoft Connect; missing this step is the most common crossplay failure. |
| Cross-progression is rare | Only Rocket League, Trackmania, and Riders Republic carry your progress across platforms via a linked account. |
| NAT type affects connections | Aim for NAT Type 2 on console or Open/Moderate on PC; a strict NAT will block crossplay lobbies. |
| Pickthe speeds up group decisions | Use the crossplay checker to filter racing games by your group's platforms and vote on a title together. |
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Table of Contents
- How do crossplay racing games compare across platforms?
- Detailed picks: what crossplay actually covers in each game
- What does crossplay actually mean in a racing game?
- How to enable crossplay and fix common problems
- Pickthe helps your group find the right crossplay racer
- When is crossplay worth it, and when should you stick to one platform?
- Sources
How do crossplay racing games compare across platforms?
Many editorial roundups confirm that crossplay support, cross-progression, and party features differ considerably between titles. The table below lays out the key dimensions for each game so your group can decide at a glance. A few things worth noting before you dive in:- Rocket League and Trackmania both require a third-party account link (Epic Games and Ubisoft Connect respectively) before crossplay works.
- Need for Speed Unbound is current-gen only, so PS4 and Xbox One players cannot join.
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the newest entry; some features are still being confirmed post-launch.
Detailed picks: what crossplay actually covers in each game
Forza Horizon 5
The gold standard for PC and Xbox crossplay racing. Every online session, convoy, and event works across PC and Xbox One/Series with no extra setup beyond a Microsoft account. Cross-progression is built in since your save lives in the cloud. Available on Game Pass for PC and Xbox, or as a standalone purchase on Steam. Best for groups with a mix of PC and Xbox players who want a relaxed open-world experience.
Rocket League
Arguably the most polished crossplay implementation in any racing-adjacent title. PC, PS4/5, Xbox, and Switch players all share the same matchmaking pool once you link an Epic Games account. Cross-progression means your rank and cosmetics follow you everywhere. Free-to-play across all platforms. Best for competitive groups who want ranked crossplay with no barriers.
Trackmania
Free to race on the base tier, with crossplay working across PC, consoles, and Switch via a Ubisoft Connect account. The subscription tiers (Standard, Club) unlock more content but crossplay itself is not paywalled. Time-trial leaderboards are shared globally. Best for groups who enjoy skill-based track racing and want a low-cost entry point.
F1 24
EA's official support documentation confirms that F1 24 has cross-play available across all competitive online modes. That covers multiplayer Grand Prix, leagues, and ranked sessions. Cross-progression is partial: career saves stay platform-locked, but online stats carry across. Available on Steam, EA App, PS Store, and Xbox Store. Best for sim-leaning groups who want a structured, season-long experience together.Dirt 5
Full crossplay across PC, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Stadia. You can form cross-platform parties and race together without any account linking beyond your platform login. The trade-off is no cross-progression, so your career stays on whichever platform you bought it on. Frequently on sale and often under £15. Best for casual groups who want chaotic, weather-affected rally racing without a steep price.
Grid Legends
EA's team-racing title supports full crossplay across PC and all console generations. Party invites work cross-platform, and the story-driven career mode gives solo players plenty to do between group sessions. No cross-progression, though. Available via EA App, Steam, PS Store, and Xbox Store. Best for groups who enjoy structured team events and want a narrative backdrop to their racing.
Need for Speed Unbound
Current-gen only (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S), so this one cuts off older hardware. Within those platforms, crossplay is full and party invites work. Cross-progression is absent, meaning your street-racing career stays tied to the platform you bought it on. Available on EA App, Steam, and PS Store. Best for groups where everyone has current-gen hardware and wants stylised street racing.
Riders Republic
Ubisoft's mass-multiplayer stunt playground supports full crossplay across PC, PS4/5, Xbox, and Stadia via a Ubisoft Connect account. The massive shared world means you will see players from all platforms in the same events. Cross-progression is tied to your Ubisoft account, so your gear and rank travel with you. Available on Ubisoft Connect, PS Store, and Xbox Store. Best for groups who want variety: races, tricks, and team events all in one place.
CarX Drift Racing Online
CarX Drift Racing Online on Steam confirms cross-platform multiplayer with flexible online rooms and ranked duels. You can create private rooms for your group across PC, PS4/5, and Xbox, making it straightforward to get a mixed-platform drift session going. Ranked duel crossplay has some matchmaking pool limits at lower player counts. Best for drift-focused communities who want a dedicated, physics-heavy crossplay experience.Crash Drive 3
One of the most genuinely cross-platform titles on this list: PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, and mobile all share the same servers. No account linking required beyond your platform login. No cross-progression, but the casual stunt-and-collect gameplay means that rarely matters. Best for large mixed-platform groups who want something quick, silly, and accessible.
Trailblazers
A team-based racer where painting the track earns your team speed boosts. Crossplay is supported across PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. The player pool is smaller than the bigger titles here, so matchmaking can take longer. Best for groups who want something different and enjoy cooperative strategy in their racing.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
SEGA's newest kart racer ran open network tests across multiple platforms before launch, confirming crossplay across PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, and mobile. Some features, including cross-progression details, are still being confirmed as the game rolls out. Platform store listings note that online modes on Switch require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Best for groups who want a fresh, character-driven kart racer with broad platform reach.
*What does crossplay actually mean in a racing game?
Crossplay, in short, means players on different platforms can race in the same online session. But the term covers several distinct features, and not every game delivers all of them.
The main crossplay features to check for any title:- Shared matchmaking — players on PC, PS, and Xbox are placed into the same lobbies. This is the most common form of crossplay and the one most games advertise.
- Cross-platform parties — you can invite a friend on a different platform directly and join the same session together. Some games support matchmaking crossplay but not party invites.
- Cross-progression / cross-save — your career, unlocks, and rank carry across platforms. This is the least common feature and is often tied to a linked third-party account (Epic, Ubisoft Connect, EA account).
- Cross-generation play — PS4 players can race PS5 players, or Xbox One players can race Xbox Series players. Most modern titles support this, but some (like NFS Unbound) cut off older hardware entirely.
- Shared leaderboards — time-trial and ranked leaderboards are unified across platforms. Trackmania does this well; some sim titles keep platform-specific boards.
Why do some games restrict crossplay? Platform ecosystems, legacy hardware performance gaps, and storefront agreements all play a role. A PS4 running a game at lower frame rates may be kept in a separate matchmaking pool from PS5 players, even within the same title. Some publishers also require a linked account (Epic, Ubisoft, EA) as a technical bridge between platform identity systems.
Pro Tip: Before inviting your group, check the developer's official support page or the game's store listing for a "multiplayer features" section. The Crossplay Checker database is also a fast way to confirm which platform pairs are supported for any racing title. *How to enable crossplay and fix common problems
Getting crossplay working is usually straightforward, but a few steps catch people out.
Step-by-step setup:1. Link your platform account — for Rocket League, link an Epic Games account; for Trackmania and Riders Republic, link a Ubisoft Connect account; for F1 24, Grid Legends, and NFS Unbound, sign in to your EA account. This is the single most common reason crossplay fails.
2. Enable the crossplay toggle — most games have a crossplay on/off switch in the online or multiplayer settings menu. Check this before assuming it is active by default.
3. Check your platform's privacy settings — on PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy > Cross-Platform Play and set it to Allow. On Xbox, go to Settings > Account > Privacy & Online Safety and confirm crossplay is permitted.
4. Send or accept cross-platform friend invites — in games that support cross-platform parties, you usually need to add friends via an in-game ID or linked account username, not just your platform gamertag.
5. Verify your NAT type — a strict NAT (Type 3 on PS, Type 3 on Xbox, or Strict on PC) will block or limit crossplay connections. Aim for NAT Type 2 (PS/Xbox) or Moderate/Open on PC.
Common fixes when crossplay is not working:- Account not linked — the most frequent issue. Re-check the account linking step in the game's settings, not just the platform settings.
- Firewall or port blocking on PC — some routers block the UDP ports racing games use. Check the developer's support page for the specific ports and open them in your router settings.
- Storefront mismatch — a few titles have separate builds on different storefronts (e.g. an Epic version and a Steam version) that do not always share crossplay pools. Check the game's FAQ to confirm which storefronts are compatible.
- Matchmaking pool differences — if you are in a cross-platform party but cannot find a match, your group may be in a smaller pool. Try switching to a different mode or region temporarily.
- Platform subscription lapsed — online play on PS5 requires PS Plus, on Xbox requires Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate, and on Switch requires Nintendo Switch Online. Crossplay cannot work if one player's subscription has expired.
Pickthe helps your group find the right crossplay racer
Not sure which of these titles your whole group can actually play together? That is exactly the problem Pickthe's crossplay compatibility checker is built to solve.
Enter each player's platform, filter by the racing genre, and Pickthe's database of over 6,000 games will surface only the titles where everyone's platform is supported. From there, your group uses the real-time swiping and voting mechanic to agree on a game in minutes rather than hours of back-and-forth in a Discord chat. The veto system means nobody gets outvoted into a game they cannot stand, and the Discord bot integration lets you run the whole vote without leaving your voice channel. For groups with a mix of PC, PS5, and Xbox players, the PC and PS5 crossplay list is a good starting point. Head to Pickthe and run a compatibility check before your next group session.
*When is crossplay worth it, and when should you stick to one platform?
Crossplay is genuinely brilliant for casual group nights. If your friends are spread across PC, PS5, and Xbox, titles like Rocket League, Forza Horizon 5, and Crash Drive 3 let everyone race together without anyone needing to buy new hardware. The matchmaking pools for these games are large enough that you will rarely notice any platform-based latency difference in casual play.
The calculus shifts when you move into competitive or simulation territory. Sim racing with a wheel setup introduces real parity concerns: a PC player using a high-end direct-drive wheel and triple monitors is in a fundamentally different input environment from a console player on a pad. Most sim-adjacent titles (F1 24 included) do not separate wheel and pad players in matchmaking, which can skew competitive results. For organised league racing, same-platform sessions with agreed hardware rules tend to produce fairer outcomes.
Ranked competitive ladders are another case where crossplay can create friction. If a game's crossplay matchmaking pools are smaller on one platform, you may end up with uneven skill distribution across a session. Trailblazers is a good example: crossplay works, but the smaller overall player base means cross-platform ranked queues can take a while to fill.
The honest answer is that crossplay is worth enabling by default for casual play, and worth reviewing carefully for anything competitive. Check the party and matchmaking limits in the table above before committing to a title for a league or ranked season.
*Sources
- All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC) - Digital Trends
- Crossplay Racing Games (2026) - Full List | Crossplay Checker
- How to cross-play in EA SPORTS F1® 24
- The Best Cross-Platform Racing Games
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Official Site|SEGA|NEWS|Sign up for the Open Network Test starting August 29!
- CarX Drift Racing Online on Steam