If you’ve ever switched between playing R6 on your console after work and your PC on weekends, or wanted to queue with a friend who owns the game on a different system, you’ve probably asked can you cross play on Rainbow Six Siege. It’s one of the most common questions newer players ask, especially as more multiplayer titles roll out full cross-platform support for all modes. For years, Ubisoft rolled out cross play in phases, so a lot of outdated info is floating around online that leaves players confused about what actually works right now. We’re breaking down everything you need to know to connect with friends across platforms without running into annoying queue errors or progression gaps.
Can You Cross Play on Rainbow Six Siege Across All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, but there are small limitations between console and PC ecosystems that you need to be aware of first. As of the latest game updates, cross play is supported for all current and last-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles, plus all PC launchers including Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect. I’ve tested this myself when switching between my Xbox Series X and my friend’s PS5 last month, and we didn’t have to change a single setting to queue for a casual match together.
Console cross play is enabled by default for all casual, ranked, unranked, and custom game modes, so you don’t have to dig through settings to play with friends on other console families. You’ll be matched with players across PlayStation and Xbox automatically, and the game prioritizes matching you with players on the same console generation to keep performance consistent across lobbies.
PC cross play works across all PC launchers automatically, so you can team up with friends who own the game on Steam, Epic, or Ubisoft Connect with no extra steps. All your progression and in-game items carry over between PC launchers too, as long as you’re signed into the same Ubisoft Connect account. The only time we ran into an issue when testing was when I tried to join his PC friend’s lobby, because I had console to PC cross play turned off by default.
You might also be wondering about cross play for ranked modes specifically. The rules are the same for ranked as they are for casual: console players can queue with other console players across any console brand, PC players can queue with other PC players across any launcher, and cross play between console and PC is allowed only if all players in the party have that setting enabled. I’ve seen a lot of misinformation online that says ranked cross play is disabled entirely, but that’s not true, it’s just opt-in for cross-ecosystem play. That said, most high-rank console players keep cross play with PC turned off, because the input advantage of mouse and keyboard makes it really hard to compete against even average PC players if you’re using a controller. If you’re just playing for fun with friends though, it’s totally worth turning on for casual or custom game lobbies.
How to Enable Cross Play and Link Your Ubisoft Account
To access cross play and cross progression across all your devices, you first need to link every platform you play R6 on to the same Ubisoft Connect account. This step is non-negotiable, even if you only ever play on one platform and just want to join cross-platform friends. I’ve helped dozens of newer players fix cross play invite errors, and 9 out of 10 times the issue is that they haven’t linked their platform account to their Ubisoft Connect account correctly.
You only have to link your accounts once, and your progression, skins, battle pass progress, and in-game currency will carry over across all linked platforms automatically. Follow these simple steps to link your accounts properly:
- Log into your Ubisoft Connect account on the official Ubisoft website from a phone or computer
- Navigate to the "Linked Accounts" section in your account settings menu
- Select the platform you want to link (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Steam, Epic Games) and follow the prompts to sign into your platform account
- Confirm the link, then restart Rainbow Six Siege on all your linked platforms to sync your progress fully
If you want to enable cross play between console and PC, you’ll have to toggle that setting on manually in the game. To do that, open the settings menu from the main R6 screen, select the "General" tab, scroll down to the cross play with PC option, and toggle it on. You’ll see a pop-up warning about input differences between controller and mouse and keyboard, so only turn that on if you’re specifically playing with PC friends, not for solo ranked queues. If you get an error that says your friend can’t be found, double check that they’re using the same Ubisoft account they use to play on their platform, not an old alt account.
Key Cross Play Limitations You Should Know
While cross play works seamlessly for most use cases, there are a few restrictions that still apply, even with your accounts fully linked. These limitations are mostly in place to keep matches fair for all players, and they’re unlikely to change anytime soon based on Ubisoft’s past updates.
Rank ratings don't carry over between console and PC, even if your accounts are linked. Your console MMR is completely separate from your PC MMR, so you won't have to start over in ranked if you switch from PS5 to Xbox, but you will have to do placement matches again if you switch from console to PC. A lot of players assume their ranked rank will carry over to PC if they link their accounts, but that’s not the case, and it’s for good reason. The meta and playstyle on PC is drastically different from console, so forcing players to keep their MMR across platforms would lead to really unfair matches for people switching for the first time. I learned that the hard way when I first tried playing PC ranked after being a platinum console player for 3 years, I got placed in bronze and had to grind my way back up, which was humbling to say the least.
Platform-exclusive in-game items also don’t carry over across ecosystems. For example, if you earned a PlayStation exclusive operator skin during a limited time event, that skin will only show up when you’re playing on PlayStation, even if your account is linked to Xbox and PC. That rule also applies to platform-exclusive pre-order bonuses and console-exclusive event rewards, so don’t panic if you don’t see some of your skins when you switch platforms. They’re still tied to your original platform account, they just won’t show up on other devices.
Cross play voice chat works automatically across all platforms, but you can toggle off cross-platform voice chat in your settings if you only want to hear people on your own platform. That’s a useful setting if you’re tired of hearing toxic PC players in casual lobbies, or if you just want to stick to voice chat with your existing friend group. You can also adjust your cross play party privacy settings to only allow invites from people on your Ubisoft friends list, to avoid random invites from strangers.
Tips for a Smooth Cross Play Experience With Friends
If you’re queuing with friends across different platforms, there are a few easy tweaks you can make to avoid common issues and keep your sessions running smoothly. Most of these fixes take less than a minute to implement, and they’ll save you a lot of frustration down the line.
Always add friends via their Ubisoft Connect username, not their platform gamertag, that way you can find them no matter what platform they’re playing on that day. A lot of people use different gamertags across PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, so searching for their Ubisoft username is the only reliable way to find them across all devices. You can also share your Ubisoft QR code with friends in person, so they can add you in one click without having to type in your username.
If you’re a console player playing with PC friends, consider using a mouse and keyboard if your console supports it, to level the playing field against PC users. Most modern PlayStation and Xbox consoles support mouse and keyboard input for R6, so you won’t have to spend money on a new PC to keep up with your PC friends. But if you prefer controller, that’s fine too, just expect to be at a small disadvantage in fast paced gunfights, especially at longer ranges.
If you’re worried about running into PC cheaters when you enable console to PC cross play, don’t be. Ubisoft’s updated anti-cheat system has cut down on PC cheaters drastically over the last two years, and you’re no more likely to run into a cheater in a cross play lobby than you are in a PC only lobby. That said, if you’re a serious ranked player who only plays on controller, you’re probably better off leaving console to PC cross play off to avoid playing against mouse and keyboard users who have faster reaction times in gunfights.
Also remember that if you’re queuing for ranked as a cross platform party, the game will match you against players based on the highest MMR in your party, so don’t bring a bronze friend to a diamond queue unless you’re ready for a challenge. If you want to play with friends of different skill levels, stick to casual or unranked modes, where the matchmaker is more forgiving of wide MMR gaps in parties.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you cross play on Rainbow Six Siege is mostly yes, as long as you understand the small limitations between console and PC ecosystems. Whether you're jumping into a casual quick match with friends across different consoles or grinding the battle pass across your PC and console, cross play makes it easier than ever to enjoy R6 with the people you want to play with, no matter what hardware they own. Just remember to link your accounts first, adjust your cross play settings to fit your preferences, and you'll be queuing up in no time.
