Valheim Crossplay Setup Guide

Valheim Crossplay

Valheim supports crossplay between Steam, Xbox, and Microsoft Game Pass. This lets your Viking crew play together regardless of their platform. Here's how to set it up on your HostedGG server.

How Crossplay Works

When crossplay is enabled, Valheim uses PlayFab (Microsoft's backend) to bridge connections between platforms. Instead of connecting via IP address directly, crossplay players use a Join Code.

Platform Support

Enabling Crossplay

Step 1: Enable in Server Settings

1. Open your HostedGG dashboard
2. Go to your server's Settings tab
3. Find the Crossplay toggle
4. Set it to Enabled
5. Restart your server

Step 2: Get the Join Code

After the server starts with crossplay enabled:

1. Go to your server's Console tab
2. Look for a line containing the Join Code (a 6-character code)
3. Share this code with your players

The Join Code typically appears in the console output as:

Session "YourServerName" with join code XXXXXX registered

Step 3: Players Connect

Steam players can connect two ways:

1. Join Code: Main Menu → Start Game → Join Game → Join Code tab → Enter code
2. IP Address: Main Menu → Start Game → Join Game → Join IP tab → Enter IP:Port

Xbox / Game Pass players:

1. Main Menu → Start Game → Join Game
2. Select Join Code
3. Enter the 6-character code
4. Enter the server password

Crossplay vs Non-Crossplay

Crossplay Troubleshooting

"Join Code Not Found"

This is the most common crossplay issue:

1. Wait 2-3 minutes after server start — PlayFab registration takes time
2. Check the server console for the Join Code
3. Ensure Crossplay is enabled in Settings
4. Restart the server if the code doesn't appear

Xbox Player Can't Connect

1. Ensure the Xbox player's game is updated to the latest version
2. Verify the Join Code is correct (codes are case-sensitive)
3. Check that the server password doesn't contain special characters (Xbox has input limitations)
4. Try restarting both the server and the Xbox game

"Incompatible Version" with Crossplay

All players must be on the same Valheim version. Platform updates don't always release simultaneously:

• Steam: Usually updates first
• Xbox/Game Pass: May lag by a few hours to a day

Solution: Wait for all platforms to update, or temporarily disable crossplay until versions match.

High Ping for Xbox Players

Crossplay routes through PlayFab servers, which can add latency:

1. Choose a server location closest to the majority of players
2. Reduce the server's view distance if lag persists
3. Consider the Standard plan (8 GB) for better crossplay performance

Crossplay with Mods

Compatible Mods

• Server-side only mods (configs, anti-cheat) may work with crossplay
• Test thoroughly before committing to a modded crossplay server

Incompatible Mods

• Any client-required mod (Valheim Plus, Epic Loot, etc.) is not compatible with Xbox/Game Pass players
• BepInEx itself is Steam-only

Mixed Setup (Not Recommended)

You technically could have Steam players with mods and Xbox players without, but this causes:

• Desync issues
• Different gameplay experiences
• Potential crashes

Recommendation: Run either a pure vanilla crossplay server OR a modded Steam-only server.

Best Practices for Crossplay Servers

1. Use vanilla Valheim — Mods and crossplay don't mix well
2. Set a simple password — Xbox players may have trouble with special characters
3. Share the Join Code securely — Don't post it publicly unless you want randoms joining
4. Keep your Join Code updated — It can change after server restarts. Check the console each time
5. Choose a central server location — If players are on different continents, pick a location that balances everyone's ping

Next Steps

• Basic server setup and configuration
• Configure world settings for your group
• Troubleshoot common connection issues

Related Blog Posts

• How to Play Valheim With Friends
• Valheim Server Setup Guide
• Dedicated Server vs Hosting — Which Is Better?