Is Insurgency Sandstorm Crossplay? (Yes, and Here’s How It Finally Works)

You know that moment when you’re sitting in a party chat with your friends, and someone says, “Hey, I’m on PC, but you guys are on Xbox… can we actually play Insurgency together?”

For years, the answer to “Is Insurgency Sandstorm crossplay?” was this frustrating, shoulder-shrugging “kind of, but not really.” It was the kind of half-answer that made you feel like you needed a spreadsheet just to figure out who could play with who. PC here, Xbox there, PlayStation stuck on an island. It worked, but only in these weird, walled-off pockets.

I wanted to write this for anyone who has ever searched that question at 11 p.m. on a Friday, hoping the answer had finally changed.

Here is the good news, straight up: Yes. As of December 2024, Insurgency Sandstorm supports full, global crossplay. PC, PlayStation, and Xbox can all finally play together in the same lobbies.

Let’s talk about what that actually means for you, because the word “crossplay” can still mean different things in different games. And honestly, even with the update, there are still some weird edges you need to know about.

Quick Reference: Is Insurgency Sandstorm Crossplay?

Platform Pair	Can They Play Together?	Notes
PC + Xbox	Yes	Full crossplay
PC + PlayStation	Yes	Full crossplay
Xbox + PlayStation	Yes	Use invite codes
PS4 + PS5	Yes	Cross-gen works automatically
Xbox One + Series X/S	Yes	Cross-gen works automatically
Steam + Epic Games Store	Yes	PC to PC, always worked
Any platform + Switch	No	No Switch version exists

The Short Version: What Works Now

If you just need the bullet points so you can get back to your squad, here is the state of play right now:

Full Crossplay (Enabled by default)

• PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store)
• PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5
• Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

What that means: You can party up with friends on any of those platforms. You can matchmake together. You can yell at each other when you miss the obvious flank.

What still doesn’t work:

• Account progression transfer. If you switch from Xbox to PC, your rank, your guns, and your DLC purchases do not carry over. I know. It hurts.
• Text chat on PlayStation. For whatever reason, PS players can’t type in text chat. They can read it, but they can’t reply. Xbox and PC can. It’s weird.

Okay, So How Do I Actually Set This Up?

This is where it gets a little… specific. Because while crossplay is automatic by default, you actually have a lot of control over how it works. And if you’re someone who hates playing against mouse-and-keyboard players while you’re chilling on a couch with a controller, you’re going to want to know this.

Here is the step-by-step, written for someone who doesn’t want to dig through menus for 20 minutes:

Step 1: Open Settings > Matchmaking Settings
Used to be called Region Settings. Now it’s Matchmaking Settings. This is your command center.

Step 2: Set Your Preferred Input Device

• Mouse & Keyboard: You’ll only match with other M&K players. Even if you plug in a controller, the game respects your preference.
• Gamepad: You’ll only match with other controller users.

Step 3: Enable Crossplay (It’s On By Default)
If you turn it off:

• PC players will only match with PC.
• Console players will only match with their same console family (Xbox with Xbox, PlayStation with PlayStation).

Step 4: Decide If You Want Mixed Input Lobbies
There is a toggle called “Match with other input devices.” If you turn this on? A controller player can match against a keyboard player. This is useful if you just want the fastest possible matchmaking and don’t care who is using what.

The Party Invite Trick That Saved My Weekend

Here is something the game doesn’t tell you clearly. If you’re trying to play with friends on different consoles say, you’re on PS5 and your buddy is on Xbox you cannot just send a platform invite. PlayStation doesn’t talk to Xbox like that.

The workaround? Invite codes.

1. One person starts a party.
2. Go to the party menu. You’ll see a Join Code.
3. Send that code to your friend however you want text, Discord, smoke signal, whatever.
4. They enter it, and boom. You’re in the same party.

This is the part that actually works really well. The code system bypasses all the console walled-garden nonsense. It’s simple. It’s reliable. And once you’re in the same party, the leader’s matchmaking settings apply to everyone.

What About Performance? Does Crossplay Mean I’m at a Disadvantage?

This is the question nobody asks out loud but everyone thinks. “If I’m on a base PS4 and my PC friend has a 240Hz monitor, am I just going to get smoked?”

The console versions of Sandstorm are actually really well optimized now. PS5 and Xbox Series X run at native 4K, 60 FPS. Even Xbox Series S holds a solid 1080p/60. The old-gen consoles (PS4, Xbox One) run at 30 FPS, but they still hold up surprisingly well.

The bigger issue isn’t performance it’s input. Keyboard and mouse is faster for aiming. That’s just physics. But the game gives you the tools to opt out. If you want to stay in controller-only lobbies, toggle that input preference. You won’t feel outgunned by someone flick-shotting you from across the map with a mouse.

Check other Crossplay Games:

• Powerwash Simulator Crossplay
• Absolum Crossplay
• Elden Ring Nightreign Crossplay

The One Thing That Still Drives Me Crazy

I have to be honest with you. I really wanted to tell you that crossplay progression works. It doesn’t. And it’s the one missing piece that makes switching platforms feel like starting over.

If you buy the Year 3 Pass on Xbox, then decide to play on PC later? None of that carries over. Your cosmetics are locked to the platform you bought them on. Your rank, your gun unlocks, your hard-earned attachments they stay behind.

This isn’t a technical limitation. Other games have solved this. It’s a business decision, and it’s the one shadow over an otherwise great crossplay implementation. I wanted you to know that going in, because nothing ruins a gaming session like assuming your progress follows you and finding out it doesn’t