What is cross platform?
The modern gaming world has become quite a mystery. Not long ago, players were fiercely debating the advantages of specific consoles or PCs, but now they’ve united thanks to the rise of crossplay. If you’re unfamiliar, crossplay is a relatively new technology that allows players on different platforms to play together on the same server. This technology is already used in popular games like Call of Duty, Minecraft, and more specifically, Rust.
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Does Rust have crossplay?
The crossplay functionality comes with certain complexities. Not all games fully support compatibility between all systems. When it comes to Rust, crossplay is available for all consoles but excludes the PC version. In other words, players on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S can play together without issues. However, PC users are left out of this system.
If you’re playing on PC, it means you cannot interact with console players. Conversely, console users cannot play with those on PCs. Why is that? The likely reason is the advantage that keyboard and mouse users have over those playing with a controller. Considering that Rust is a first-person shooter where PvP (player versus player) is a core part of the game, this imbalance could make the game less enjoyable.
At this time, Facepunch Studios, the developers of Rust, have not made any statements regarding plans to unify PC and console players. It's also unlikely to happen in the near future. However, as consoles increasingly support the use of keyboards and mice, the possibility of full crossplay in the future — perhaps in Rust 2 or a future update — doesn’t seem far-fetched.
Community Backlash
The topic of crossplay in Rust sparks ongoing debate within the community, with many believing that introducing this feature could disrupt the game’s balance. It’s widely accepted that analog sticks on controllers fall short in precision and speed compared to a keyboard and mouse in first-person shooters. This is one of the main reasons why Rust does not yet support full cross-platform play.
However, other popular shooters like Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, and Fortnite have successfully implemented crossplay without significant issues. So why is Rust different? It could be related to the player base itself. As an indie game, Rust may place more focus on the opinions and preferences of its community, keeping platforms separate at their request. While this is just speculation, it seems like a plausible explanation.
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Conclusion
That’s all for now! Rust remains an excellent open-world survival game with a focus on PvP. It would be fantastic to play with friends across different platforms, but for now, that’s not part of Facepunch’s plans. Nevertheless, the future of gaming will likely involve more crossplay, and the differences between platforms will gradually fade into minor nuances. But for now, if you’re on PC, you’ll have to miss out on playing with friends on consoles. We wish you a great gaming experience!