Is Payday 2 Cross‑Platform?

Is Payday 2 cross-platform? Payday 2 is a co-operative crime spree game loved for its dynamic heist missions and endless customization. Many heisters, including myself, want to know if they can team up with friends on different systems. Having coached groups through countless stealth and loud runs, I’ve seen how important connectivity is. 

In this guide, I’ll break down platform availability, crossplay support, cross-save functionality, account linking, and developer statements to help you understand whether Payday 2 is truly cross-platform in 2025. Along the way, I’ll share insights from my years of playing and teaching co-op games.

Platform Availability

Payday 2 has been around since 2013 and has gradually expanded to numerous gaming platforms. You can find the game on PC (Windows, macOS, and Linux) through the Steam store and the Epic Games Store. It’s also available on PlayStation (PS3, PS4, and PS5), Xbox (Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S), and Nintendo Switch. The breadth of platforms means nearly every gamer can access the title, but it doesn’t automatically mean they can play together.

When I first downloaded the game on PC, I was surprised by how much richer the PC version felt compared with older console editions. PC versions have received hundreds of updates, balance tweaks, and DLC expansions since launch. Console versions, especially on PS3 and Xbox 360, haven’t been updated since 2018, so they miss out on new heists and features. This difference in game versions is one of the biggest hurdles to true cross‑platform play.

Cross‑Platform Play (Crossplay)

Cross‑platform play allows people on different systems to join forces in the same matches. Unfortunately, Payday 2 does not offer true cross‑platform play. PC gamers can play together whether they purchased the game from Steam or the Epic Games Store, but they cannot join console friends. Likewise, PlayStation and Xbox players are siloed within their own ecosystems.

For comparison, some titles like Stardew Valley have their own unique limitations when it comes to crossplay, though they handle connectivity differently from Payday 2. Through my coaching sessions and personal play, I’ve watched players attempt to set up crossplay between PC and console, only to realize it’s impossible. The underlying reason is the disparity in patches and content. The PC version has dozens of heists, weapons, and difficulty tweaks that do not exist on consoles. Allowing crossplay would create an uneven playing field and technical complications.

Crossplay Support by Platform

Here’s a closer look at how crossplay works (or doesn’t) across specific platforms:

• PC (Steam and Epic Games Store): PC players can invite friends regardless of whether they purchased the game on Steam or the Epic Games Store. This is the only form of crossplay currently available. Since both storefronts run the same PC build, there are no compatibility problems.
  
• PlayStation consoles: There is cross‑generation support across PS4 and PS5. If you own the PS4 version and upgrade your console to a PS5, you can still play with PS4 friends because the PS4 build runs via backward compatibility. However, you cannot crossplay with PC or Xbox players.
  
• Xbox consoles: Similar to PlayStation, there is cross‑generation support between Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Xbox 360 players are stuck on an outdated version of the game and cannot crossplay even with newer Xbox families. Cross‑platform play with PC or PlayStation remains impossible.
  
• Nintendo Switch: The Switch port runs a separate, trimmed‑down build. It doesn’t support crossplay with any other platforms, and its version is closer to the older console editions.
  
• VR (SteamVR): Payday 2 VR allows crossplay only between VR players and non‑VR players on PC. If you own a VR headset and launch Payday 2 in VR mode through Steam, you can join sessions hosted by non‑VR PC players. This is a rare exception where cross‑play exists, though it’s still limited to PC.

When I switched from PS4 to PC years ago, I wanted to join my console friends’ heists. We discovered that cross‑generation on PlayStation allowed them to keep playing together as long as they all used PlayStation systems, but there was no way for me to join from PC. I’ve since helped new players avoid that frustration by explaining these boundaries before they buy.

Platform‑Specific Limitations and Partial Compatibility

One of the biggest reasons Payday 2 lacks full cross‑platform play is the vast difference in updates across platforms. On PC, the game receives frequent patches, new heists like San Martín Bank, and weapon packs. Console editions lag behind by several years. As a result, PC players have tools and missions that console players don’t. Bringing these builds into sync would require major development resources.

Hardware differences also play a role. The game was built on an older engine that scales poorly across modern consoles and PC. Supporting crossplay would mean rewriting network and matchmaking systems to account for different frame rates, input methods, and performance budgets. Developers at Overkill Software have hinted that such an overhaul is more feasible for new titles rather than for a decade‑old game.

There are also platform policies. PlayStation and Xbox each have their own network infrastructures and approval processes. Over the years, I’ve helped friends navigate these systems, and getting crossplay to work across them isn’t as simple as toggling a switch. Publishers must negotiate and implement platform‑specific restrictions. For a game like Payday 2, whose major development has slowed, investing in cross‑play across these walled gardens doesn’t make financial sense.

Cross‑Save and Cross‑Progression

Many players assume cross‑save and cross‑progression are the same. Cross‑save lets you share a single save file across platforms, while cross‑progression means your progress (levels, weapons, cash) follows you wherever you play. Payday 2 does not support cross‑save or cross‑progression between different platforms. If you earn billions in cash on PS4, that progress will not appear on your PC or Xbox account.

Cross‑Save Support

There is a narrow exception: PC players using Steam can move save files between Windows, macOS, and Linux because Steam Cloud synchronizes data across those operating systems. If you use the Windows version on a desktop and later boot up Payday 2 on a Linux laptop, your progress will carry over because it’s the same Steam account. Outside of that scenario, cross‑save doesn’t exist. Console players must keep separate saves on each system.

As someone who dual‑boots Windows and Linux, I’ve taken advantage of this feature. It was seamless: I completed a stealth run of Golden Grin Casino on Windows, shut down, and resumed on Linux with all my loot intact. However, when I jumped on my friend’s PS5, none of my progress transferred. That forced me to start from scratch, illustrating how limited the feature is.

Cross‑Progression Support

Cross‑progression doesn’t exist in Payday 2 beyond the Steam Cloud example. The game ties progression to the platform you’re playing on. Even within the same console family, progression doesn’t migrate automatically. When I upgraded from PS3 to PS4 years ago, I had to rebuild my entire arsenal because there was no way to carry data forward. Overkill Software has acknowledged this gap and directed players toward their upcoming sequel, Payday 3, which promises cross‑progression from launch. If you’re curious how other modern shooters handle crossplay, Remnant 2 offers a great example of a newer title that successfully integrates cross-platform co-op from day one.

Account Linking

Account linking allows players to connect profiles across services like Steam, Xbox Live, or PlayStation Network. Payday 2 doesn’t include a universal account linking system. The game does offer a Starbreeze Nebula account for community forums and support, but it doesn’t manage in‑game progress or cross‑platform authentication. If you own the game on multiple systems, each one operates independently.

For PC crossplay between Steam and the Epic Games Store, players simply host or join games using the in‑game friend invite system or direct session codes. There’s no external account linking required, which makes PC crossplay easy but also means there’s no mechanism to sync progress across storefronts. Console players must invite friends through their platform’s standard party and friends systems.

Developer/Publisher Comments and Future Plans

Over the years, Overkill Software and its parent company Starbreeze, have addressed the community’s requests for cross‑platform play. They’ve explained that differences in update schedules, content, and platform policies make crossplay an enormous challenge. With the console versions so far behind the PC build, merging the communities would require rewriting large portions of the game.

During the development of the VR mode, the team did manage to enable crossplay between VR players and regular PC players. That success shows they’re willing to experiment where feasible. However, they’ve been clear that resources are focused on Payday 3, which will launch with crossplay and cross‑progression. While the company hasn’t ruled out further updates to Payday 2, the official stance is that meaningful cross‑platform features are unlikely given the age of the game.

As someone who keeps up with news on Payday and other co‑op shooters, I’ve seen this pattern before. Games with older foundations rarely receive full crossplay retrofits because the cost is high and the player base is content to wait for sequels. That’s why I recommend managing expectations: if you’re hungry for cross‑platform heisting, keep an eye on our coverage of Payday 3 and other cross‑play titles.

Summary

Payday 2 is available on most major gaming platforms, but it does not support true cross‑platform play. PC players on Steam and the Epic Games Store can play together, and there’s cross‑generation within PlayStation and Xbox families. Crossplay beyond those boundaries isn’t possible because of different update levels, technical constraints, and platform policies. Cross‑save and cross‑progression are limited to Steam’s ability to sync saves across operating systems, and there’s no universal account linking. Developer comments indicate that meaningful crossplay won’t come to Payday 2, but Payday 3 is poised to deliver that experience.

If you’re looking for cross‑platform games, our article on the best cross‑platform games to play with friends explores titles that offer robust crossplay and cross‑progression. 

FAQs

Can Xbox and PC play Payday 2 together?

Xbox and PC cannot play Payday 2 together because the game doesn’t support cross‑platform play. You can only join friends within the same console family or across the PC storefronts.

Is Payday 2 cross-platform between PlayStation and Xbox?

Payday 2 is not cross-platform between PlayStation and Xbox because each ecosystem uses different builds. PlayStation players can play across PS4 and PS5, and Xbox players across Xbox One and Series X/S.

Does Payday 2 support cross‑progression?

Payday 2 doesn’t support cross‑progression, so your levels and unlocks stay on the platform where you earned them. Only Steam Cloud can sync saves across PC operating systems.

Can I transfer my Payday 2 save from console to PC?

You cannot transfer your Payday 2 save from console to PC because there’s no cross‑save functionality between platforms. Each system keeps its own separate save data.

Is there crossplay between the Steam and Epic Games Store versions?

There is crossplay between the Steam and Epic Games Store versions because both run the same PC build. You can host or join matches regardless of where you purchased the game.

Will Payday 3 offer cross‑platform play?

Payday 3 will offer cross‑platform play, according to developer announcements. It will launch with crossplay and cross‑progression across PC and consoles.

Does Payday 2 support VR crossplay?

Yes, Payday 2 supports VR crossplay on PC, letting VR players join non‑VR sessions through Steam. This is the only instance of crossplay beyond PC storefronts.