Is Rainbow Six Siege Cross Platform? Crossplay Guide 2026
Sarah Chen|Yes, Rainbow Six Siege supports full cross-platform play across all major platforms. Since December 2022, Ubisoft has enabled complete crossplay between PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, connecting the entire player base for the first time in the game’s history.
Rainbow Six Siege Cross-Platform Support Explained
Rainbow Six Siege’s crossplay implementation connects all platforms through Ubisoft Connect accounts. This means your PC friends can squad up with console players, and PlayStation users can match against Xbox players. The system works across all game modes, including Ranked, Unranked, and Casual matchmaking.
The crossplay feature operates alongside full cross-progression, so your operator unlocks, cosmetics, battle pass progress, and rank transfer between platforms when you log in with the same Ubisoft account. This creates a unified experience where switching platforms doesn’t reset your progress.
Ubisoft’s implementation uses input-based matchmaking to maintain competitive balance. Console players using controllers get matched primarily against other controller users, while PC players with mouse and keyboard face similar competition. However, when platforms mix in squads, the matchmaking pool changes to ensure fair play.
Which Platforms Can Play Together?
Every platform that supports Rainbow Six Siege can play together through crossplay. Here’s the complete compatibility breakdown:
| Platform | Crossplay Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect) | Yes | Plays with all console platforms |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | Full compatibility with all platforms |
| PlayStation 4 | Yes | Full compatibility with all platforms |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Full compatibility with all platforms |
| Xbox One | Yes | Full compatibility with all platforms |
How to Enable Crossplay in Rainbow Six Siege
Crossplay is enabled by default in Rainbow Six Siege, but you can verify and adjust settings if needed:
- Launch Rainbow Six Siege and navigate to the main menu
- Go to Options, then select Matchmaking Preferences
- Look for the “Crossplay” toggle option
- Ensure it’s set to “Enabled” (this is the default setting)
- Save your settings and return to the main menu
If you want to disable crossplay and only match with players on your specific platform, simply toggle the crossplay option to “Disabled.” This limits your matchmaking pool but may result in longer queue times, especially during off-peak hours.
To invite friends from other platforms, add them through the in-game friend system using their Ubisoft Connect username or through the Ubisoft Connect overlay if you’re on PC.
Input-Based Matchmaking and Competitive Balance
Rainbow Six Siege addresses the mouse and keyboard versus controller debate through sophisticated matchmaking logic. When you’re playing solo or with friends on the same platform type, the game keeps console players in console lobbies and PC players in PC lobbies.
The system changes when you create mixed squads. If a PC player joins a console squad, that entire group enters the PC matchmaking pool. This means console players in mixed squads will face mouse and keyboard opponents, which can create a competitive disadvantage.
Console-only squads stay within the console ecosystem, maintaining the controller-based gameplay experience. This approach balances accessibility with competitive integrity, though it requires strategic thinking about squad composition.
Ubisoft monitors crossplay statistics and adjusts the system based on player feedback and competitive balance data. The developer has stated they’re committed to maintaining fair play while expanding cross-platform opportunities.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
While Rainbow Six Siege’s crossplay is extensive, several limitations affect your experience:
Mixed squad matchmaking consequences: Console players joining PC friends face significantly higher skill ceilings due to mouse and keyboard precision. Consider your skill level before entering mixed platform lobbies.
Voice chat restrictions: Platform-specific voice chat systems don’t always integrate perfectly. You may need third-party applications like Discord for consistent communication across platforms.
Friend system complexity: Adding friends across platforms requires Ubisoft Connect usernames, which can be different from platform gamertags. Make sure you know your friends’ correct Ubisoft identities.
Regional matchmaking priority: The system prioritizes connection quality, so crossplay may not always guarantee matches with friends in different regions. Network stability takes precedence over platform mixing in some cases.
Ranked play considerations: Crossplay affects ranked matchmaking pools, potentially changing the competitive meta you’re accustomed to on your native platform.
Can I transfer my Rainbow Six Siege progress between platforms?
Yes, Rainbow Six Siege supports full cross-progression through your Ubisoft Connect account. Your operators, cosmetics, rank, and battle pass progress automatically sync between platforms when you log in with the same Ubisoft account. This feature launched alongside crossplay and works across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Do I need to pay for the game again to play on different platforms?
You need to own Rainbow Six Siege on each platform you want to play on. Cross-progression saves your progress, but it doesn’t grant you free copies of the game on other platforms. However, your unlocked content transfers over, so you won’t lose operators or cosmetics when switching platforms.
Can I disable crossplay if I only want to play with people on my platform?
Yes, you can disable crossplay in the matchmaking preferences menu. This restricts your matches to only players on your specific platform, but expect longer queue times as your available player pool shrinks significantly. Most players keep crossplay enabled for faster matchmaking and larger player populations.
Related Cross-Platform Guides
- Call of Duty Crossplay Guide
- Apex Legends Crossplay Guide
- Overwatch 2 Crossplay Guide
- Valorant Crossplay Guide
- Counter-Strike 2 Crossplay Guide
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Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
