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Is Sons of the Forest Cross Platform? Crossplay Guide 2026
Game Guide

Is Sons of the Forest Cross Platform? Crossplay Guide 2026

Marcus WebbMarcus Webb|

No, Sons of the Forest does not support cross-platform play. The game is currently only available on PC through Steam, which means there are no other platforms to connect with for crossplay functionality.

Sons of the Forest Cross-Platform Support Explained

Sons of the Forest remains a PC-exclusive title since its official release on February 22, 2024. Endnight Games developed this survival horror game as a Steam-only release, with no announced plans for console ports or cross-platform functionality.

The absence of crossplay isn’t due to technical limitations or developer oversight. There’s only one platform to play on. With approximately 8,966 current players all on Steam, the PC community represents the entire player base.

Unlike many modern multiplayer games that launch across multiple platforms, Sons of the Forest followed a different path. The game spent time in Early Access before its full release, allowing Endnight Games to focus entirely on optimizing the PC experience rather than spreading development resources across multiple platforms.

Which Platforms Can Play Together?

Here’s the current platform compatibility breakdown for Sons of the Forest:

Platform Crossplay Supported Notes
PC (Steam) N/A Only available platform
PlayStation 4 No Game not available
PlayStation 5 No Game not available
Xbox One No Game not available
Xbox Series X/S No Game not available
Nintendo Switch No Game not available

Why Sons of the Forest Doesn’t Have Crossplay

The primary reason Sons of the Forest lacks cross-platform play is straightforward: there’s only one platform to play it on. Endnight Games has focused their development efforts exclusively on PC, utilizing Steam’s infrastructure for multiplayer functionality.

This PC-only approach allows the developers to take full advantage of Steam’s networking features, including Steam’s friend system, server browser, and integrated voice chat. The game supports up to 8 players in cooperative multiplayer sessions, all managed through Steam’s backend systems.

Without console versions in development, implementing crossplay would serve no purpose. Even if Endnight Games wanted to add cross-platform support, they would first need to port the game to other systems — a significant undertaking that hasn’t been announced.

PC Multiplayer Features and Setup

While Sons of the Forest doesn’t offer crossplay, it provides solid multiplayer functionality for PC users. The game supports cooperative play for up to 8 players, making it perfect for survival adventures with your Steam friends.

Setting up a multiplayer session is straightforward. Launch the game through Steam, select “Multiplayer” from the main menu, and choose whether to host a new game or join an existing session. You can invite Steam friends directly or make your server publicly accessible.

The game includes several multiplayer-specific features: shared building projects, resource pooling, and coordinated base defense. All progress saves to the host’s world, and players can drop in and out of sessions as needed. Communication happens through Steam’s integrated voice chat or text chat systems.

Server stability has improved significantly since the Early Access period. The developers optimized networking code for the full release, reducing connection drops and synchronization issues that plagued earlier versions.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

The biggest limitation is obvious: you can only play with other PC users who own the game on Steam. This restriction affects players who have friends on consoles or other PC platforms like Epic Games Store or GOG.

Save progression is tied to the host player’s world. If you join someone else’s server, your individual progress doesn’t carry over to your own single-player campaigns. This means you’ll need to coordinate with the same group of players to maintain consistent progression in multiplayer worlds.

Performance requirements can also limit multiplayer accessibility. Sons of the Forest demands decent hardware specifications, especially when hosting sessions for multiple players. Lower-end PCs might struggle with the additional processing load of managing multiplayer connections while rendering the game’s detailed environments.

Network connectivity issues can still occur, particularly with players who have strict NAT settings or unstable internet connections. The game requires proper port forwarding for optimal hosting experience, which some players find technically challenging.

Will Sons of the Forest ever get console ports?

Endnight Games hasn’t announced any console versions of Sons of the Forest. The developer appears focused on expanding and improving the PC version rather than porting to other platforms. Given the game’s complex survival mechanics and detailed graphics, console development would require significant optimization work.

Can I play Sons of the Forest offline?

Yes, Sons of the Forest includes a full single-player campaign that works entirely offline. You don’t need an internet connection to enjoy the survival experience, build bases, or progress through the story. Only multiplayer features require online connectivity through Steam.

How many players can join a Sons of the Forest server?

Sons of the Forest supports up to 8 players in a single multiplayer session. This limit applies whether you’re hosting a private game for friends or running a public server. The 8-player cap ensures stable performance while providing enough cooperation opportunities for complex base building and exploration.


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Marcus Webb

Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.