Is Dead by Daylight Crossplay Available? A Comprehensive Guide
Dead by Daylight, the asymmetrical horror game that pits four Survivors against one Killer, has captivated players since its release. One of the most frequently asked questions about the game is whether or not it supports crossplay. The answer is a resounding yes, but understanding how it works and how to manage it is key to enjoying the full Dead by Daylight experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Dead by Daylight crossplay.
## What is Crossplay in Dead by Daylight?
Crossplay, or cross-platform play, allows players on different gaming platforms to play together. In the context of Dead by Daylight, this means that players on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), PlayStation (PS4, PS5), Xbox (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S), and Nintendo Switch can all be in the same matches. This significantly expands the player pool, leading to faster matchmaking times and more diverse gameplay experiences.
## Benefits of Crossplay
* **Larger Player Pool:** The most significant benefit of crossplay is the increased number of players available. This reduces queue times, especially during off-peak hours.
* **Matchmaking Variety:** Crossplay introduces players to a wider range of playstyles and strategies, making matches more unpredictable and exciting.
* **Play with Friends:** Crossplay enables friends who own different consoles or PCs to play together, fostering a sense of community.
* **Longer Game Lifespan:** By consolidating the player base, crossplay helps ensure the longevity of the game by maintaining a healthy online population.
## Crossplay Compatibility: Which Platforms Can Play Together?
Dead by Daylight’s crossplay feature is fairly comprehensive. The following platforms are compatible with each other:
* **PC:** Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store versions can all crossplay with each other and with consoles.
* **PlayStation:** PS4 and PS5 players can play together and with other platforms.
* **Xbox:** Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S players can play together and with other platforms.
* **Nintendo Switch:** Nintendo Switch players can play with other platforms.
**Important Note:** While all these platforms can crossplay, mobile versions of Dead by Daylight (iOS and Android) are *not* included in crossplay. Mobile players can only play with other mobile players.
## How to Enable Crossplay in Dead by Daylight
The good news is that crossplay is enabled by default in Dead by Daylight. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check your settings to ensure it’s active. Here’s how to enable crossplay on each platform:
### PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game through your preferred launcher (Steam, Epic Games Store, or Microsoft Store).
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, click on the “Options” gear icon.
3. **Go to General Settings:** In the Options menu, select the “General” tab.
4. **Check the Crossplay Setting:** Look for the “Crossplay” option. Make sure it’s toggled to “On.” If it’s already on, you don’t need to do anything.
5. **Restart the Game (if necessary):** In some cases, you may need to restart the game for the changes to take effect. However, this is usually not required.
### PlayStation (PS4, PS5)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game on your PlayStation console.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select “Options.”
3. **Go to General Settings:** Within the Options menu, find and select the “General” tab.
4. **Verify Crossplay is Enabled:** Check for the “Crossplay” setting and ensure it is set to “On.”
### Xbox (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game on your Xbox console.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select “Options.”
3. **Go to General Settings:** In the Options menu, navigate to the “General” tab.
4. **Confirm Crossplay is Active:** Verify that the “Crossplay” option is enabled. If not, toggle it to “On.”
### Nintendo Switch
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game on your Nintendo Switch.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select the “Options” icon.
3. **Go to General Settings:** In the Options menu, find the “General” tab.
4. **Ensure Crossplay is On:** Confirm that the “Crossplay” setting is toggled to “On.”
**Troubleshooting Crossplay Issues:**
If you’re having trouble with crossplay, here are a few common issues and solutions:
* **Crossplay is Disabled:** Double-check the settings as described above to ensure crossplay is enabled on your platform.
* **Network Issues:** A poor internet connection can sometimes interfere with crossplay. Ensure you have a stable and reliable internet connection.
* **Game Updates:** Make sure your game is up to date. Crossplay functionality may require the latest version of Dead by Daylight.
* **Platform-Specific Issues:** Occasionally, there may be platform-specific issues that prevent crossplay from working correctly. Check the Dead by Daylight forums or social media for any announcements about known issues.
## How to Disable Crossplay in Dead by Daylight (and Why You Might Want To)
While crossplay offers many benefits, there are some reasons why you might want to disable it. One common reason is the perceived skill gap between PC and console players. PC players often have an advantage due to mouse and keyboard controls, which can be more precise than using a controller. Some players also believe that PC players are more likely to use cheats or hacks, although Behaviour Interactive actively works to combat cheating.
**Important Note:** Disabling crossplay *will* significantly increase your queue times, especially at off-peak hours, as it limits the pool of available players. It might be harder to find matches as Killer in particular, since fewer players will be available to play as survivors.
Here’s how to disable crossplay on each platform:
### PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Open the game through your chosen launcher.
2. **Navigate to Options:** Click on the “Options” gear icon from the main menu.
3. **Go to General Settings:** Select the “General” tab in the Options menu.
4. **Disable Crossplay:** Toggle the “Crossplay” option to “Off.”
5. **Confirm:** You may be prompted to confirm your decision. Confirm that you want to disable crossplay.
### PlayStation (PS4, PS5)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game on your PlayStation.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select “Options.”
3. **Go to General Settings:** Find and select the “General” tab.
4. **Disable Crossplay:** Toggle the “Crossplay” setting to “Off.”
5. **Confirm:** A message will likely appear warning you about longer queue times. Confirm your choice to disable crossplay.
### Xbox (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Start the game on your Xbox.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select “Options.”
3. **Go to General Settings:** In the Options menu, navigate to the “General” tab.
4. **Disable Crossplay:** Toggle the “Crossplay” option to “Off.”
5. **Confirm:** Confirm that you want to disable crossplay, acknowledging the potential for longer wait times.
### Nintendo Switch
1. **Launch Dead by Daylight:** Launch the game on your Nintendo Switch.
2. **Navigate to Options:** From the main menu, select “Options.”
3. **Go to General Settings:** Select the “General” tab.
4. **Disable Crossplay:** Toggle the “Crossplay” setting to “Off.”
5. **Confirm:** Confirm your decision to disable crossplay, understanding that it may impact matchmaking.
## How to Add Friends on Different Platforms in Dead by Daylight
To play with friends on different platforms, you’ll need to add them to your Dead by Daylight friends list. Here’s how:
1. **Obtain Your Friend’s Dead by Daylight ID:** Each player has a unique Dead by Daylight ID, which is different from their platform username (e.g., Steam username, PSN ID, Xbox Gamertag, Nintendo Switch username). This ID is usually found in the friends or social menu within the game. Have your friend provide you with their Dead by Daylight ID.
2. **Access the Friends Menu:** From the Dead by Daylight main menu, navigate to the “Friends” or “Social” menu. The exact wording may vary slightly depending on the platform, but it’s usually represented by a friends icon.
3. **Add Friend:** Look for an “Add Friend” button or option. Click on it.
4. **Enter Your Friend’s Dead by Daylight ID:** Enter the Dead by Daylight ID that your friend provided. Be careful to enter it correctly, as the ID is case-sensitive.
5. **Send Friend Request:** After entering the ID, send a friend request.
6. **Accept Friend Request:** Your friend will need to accept your friend request on their end. Once they accept, you’ll be able to see them in your friends list and invite them to your lobby.
**Important Considerations for Adding Friends:**
* **Dead by Daylight ID vs. Platform Username:** Remember that you need your friend’s *Dead by Daylight ID*, not their Steam username, PSN ID, Xbox Gamertag, or Nintendo Switch username.
* **Case Sensitivity:** The Dead by Daylight ID is case-sensitive, so make sure you enter it exactly as it appears.
* **Friend Request Limits:** There may be a limit to the number of friend requests you can send or receive. If you’re having trouble adding a friend, make sure you haven’t reached the limit.
## Potential Downsides and Considerations of Crossplay
While crossplay generally enhances the Dead by Daylight experience, it’s important to be aware of potential drawbacks:
* **Input Method Disparity:** As mentioned earlier, PC players using mouse and keyboard may have an advantage over console players using controllers. This can lead to frustration for some console players.
* **Communication Challenges:** While Dead by Daylight has in-game voice chat, it may not always be reliable or preferred. Coordinating with friends on different platforms can be more difficult if you don’t use external voice chat programs like Discord.
* **Platform Performance Differences:** The performance of Dead by Daylight can vary across different platforms. PC players with high-end computers may experience smoother gameplay and higher frame rates than console players, potentially giving them a slight edge.
* **Potential for Toxicity:** Unfortunately, online gaming can sometimes be toxic. Crossplay can expose you to a wider range of players, including those who may exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior. Behaviour Interactive actively monitors and addresses reports of toxicity, but it’s still a consideration.
* **Regional Matchmaking Issues:** In some cases, crossplay can lead to regional matchmaking issues, where you may be matched with players from different geographical regions. This can result in higher ping and lag, affecting your gameplay experience.
## Cross-Progression: Is Your Progress Shared Across Platforms?
Cross-progression is the ability to share your progress, including characters, cosmetics, and Bloodpoints, across different platforms. Unfortunately, Dead by Daylight’s cross-progression is somewhat limited.
**Cross-Progression Availability:**
* **Steam, Epic Games Store, and Stadia:** Progress can be transferred between these platforms.
**Cross-Progression Limitations:**
* **PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch:** These platforms *do not* support cross-progression. This means that your progress on PlayStation, for example, will not carry over to Xbox or Nintendo Switch.
**Why is Cross-Progression Limited?**
The main reason for the limited cross-progression is due to platform policies and restrictions. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have different approaches to account management and game ownership, making it difficult to implement seamless cross-progression across all platforms. Behaviour Interactive has expressed interest in expanding cross-progression in the future, but it’s ultimately dependent on these platform holders.
## Dead by Daylight Anti-Cheat Measures
Cheating can ruin the experience for everyone. Behavior Interactive uses Easy Anti-Cheat to combat hackers and cheaters on the platform. While no anti-cheat system is perfect, it helps prevent and ban cheaters and hackers as soon as they are found. You can report any suspected cheater in-game, by using the reporting tool, which helps Behavior’s anti-cheat systems.
## Future of Crossplay in Dead by Daylight
Behaviour Interactive is committed to improving and expanding the Dead by Daylight experience, including crossplay functionality. While there are no specific announcements about future crossplay features, it’s likely that they will continue to monitor player feedback and explore ways to enhance the crossplay experience.
Possible future improvements could include:
* **Expanded Cross-Progression:** Implementing cross-progression across more platforms would be a major improvement, allowing players to seamlessly switch between their preferred devices without losing their progress.
* **Improved Communication Tools:** Enhancing in-game communication tools could make it easier for players on different platforms to coordinate and strategize.
* **More Granular Crossplay Options:** Providing more granular crossplay options, such as the ability to choose specific platforms to crossplay with, could give players more control over their matchmaking experience.
## Conclusion
Crossplay in Dead by Daylight is a valuable feature that significantly enhances the game by expanding the player pool, reducing queue times, and allowing friends on different platforms to play together. While there are some potential downsides, such as the input method disparity and limited cross-progression, the benefits generally outweigh the drawbacks. By understanding how crossplay works and how to manage it, you can make the most of the Dead by Daylight experience and enjoy countless hours of thrilling asymmetrical horror gameplay.