If you’re like me, you’ve probably got a group of friends split between console and PC who all want to dig, build, and fight the Wall of Flesh together in Terraria. One question pops up every time we plan a new playthrough: is Terraria cross platform PS4 and PC? I’ve spent hours testing connections, troubleshooting errors, and running playthroughs with friends on both devices, so I’ve put together everything you need to know to make your crossplay sessions run smoothly.
Is Terraria Cross Platform PS4 and PC: What We Know Right Now
The short answer is yes, crossplay between PS4 and PC for Terraria works as long as you meet a few basic requirements. It wasn’t always this way, though. For years after the game’s full release, Sony’s strict cross-platform policies meant PS4 players could only play with other PlayStation users. That changed after the 1.4 Journey’s End update, when Re-Logic worked with Sony to roll out crossplay support across PlayStation, Steam, and even mobile devices. If you’re wondering whether is Terraria cross platform PS4 and PC for all game modes, the answer is yes for Journey, Classic, Expert, and Master mode worlds.
Version alignment is the non-negotiable first step for any crossplay session. If your PC is running the latest 1.4.4.9 update and your friend’s PS4 is still on an older 1.4.3 build, you won’t be able to connect at all. Sony rolls out Terraria updates at the same time as Steam these days, but it’s always worth double checking both devices have the same version number before you start trying to connect.
You’ll also need to link your PSN account to your Steam account via Terraria’s in-game settings. This only takes a minute to do the first time, and you won’t have to repeat it unless you switch accounts on either device. You don’t have to own the game on both platforms to play crossplay, either – you just need a valid copy on the device you’re using.
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up PS4 and PC Crossplay for Terraria
Setting up crossplay between PS4 and PC is far simpler than it was a few years ago. I’ve run through this process dozens of times, so I’ve trimmed out all the unnecessary steps to get you in game as fast as possible.
- Update Terraria on both your PS4 and PC to the latest available version to avoid version mismatch errors. You can check the version number on the game’s main menu screen on both devices.
- On your PS4, log into your PSN account, then navigate to Terraria’s in-game settings to link your Steam account when prompted. You’ll get a code to enter on the Steam linking page, which takes less than 30 seconds to complete.
- On PC, launch Terraria via Steam, ensure you’re logged into the same linked Steam account if you’re hosting, or have the host’s friend code ready if you’re joining a friend’s game.
- Host a game on either device, set the lobby to "Friends Only" or "Public", then send the lobby code or invite your friend directly via the in-game friends menu. Public lobbies don’t always show up across platforms, so direct invites are far more reliable.
- Accept the invite on the second device, and wait 10-15 seconds for the connection to establish before starting your playthrough. Don’t back out of the invite screen early, as that will cancel the connection request.
One big thing to note here: modded PC builds are not compatible with vanilla PS4 versions of Terraria. If you usually run mod packs like Calamity on your PC, you’ll need to switch back to the vanilla, unmodded version of the game to play with PS4 friends. You can use Steam’s beta branch options to keep separate modded and vanilla installs so you don’t have to reinstall mods every time you switch play styles.
For the best connection quality, have the friend with the most stable internet connection host the lobby. I’ve found that PC hosts tend to have more stable connections for crossplay sessions, but PS4 hosts work just fine if their upload speed is at least 10 Mbps.
Common Crossplay Issues Between PS4 and PC (And Fixes)
Even if you follow every step perfectly, you might run into a few hiccups when connecting PS4 and PC for Terraria crossplay. I’ve dealt with all of these issues personally, so I’ve got proven fixes for each one. These fixes will resolve 99% of issues you run into when testing if is Terraria cross platform PS4 and PC for your friend group.
The most common issue is a version mismatch error that pops up when you try to join a lobby. If you get this error, close the game on both devices and check for updates. Sometimes Steam will auto-update but PS4 won’t, so manually check for updates on your PS4 even if you think it’s up to date. I’ve had this happen three times with my friend group, and updating the PS4 version fixed it every time.
Another common issue is connection timeouts when trying to join a lobby. Firewall or antivirus blocks are the most overlooked issue here. If you’re hosting on PC, make sure you’ve added Terraria to your Windows Defender or third-party antivirus whitelist, and that your router has the right port forwarding settings enabled for Terraria. If you’re playing on PS4, check that your NAT type is set to Type 1 or Type 2 – a strict Type 3 NAT will almost always block crossplay connections.
If you can’t see your friend’s lobby at all, don’t waste time scrolling through the public lobby list. Public lobbies are sorted by platform by default, so cross-platform lobbies rarely show up in search results. Instead, send a direct invite via the in-game friends menu, or share the 6-digit lobby code with your friend to enter manually. That works 100% of the time in my experience.
If you’re still having issues, unlink your PSN and Steam accounts in Terraria’s settings, then re-link them again. Sometimes the account link gets corrupted after a game update, and re-linking fixes the problem instantly.
Limitations of PS4 and PC Crossplay for Terraria
While crossplay between PS4 and PC works really well these days, there are a few limitations you should know about before you start your playthrough. These aren’t dealbreakers for most people, but they’re good to plan for ahead of time.
First off, cross-save functionality is not supported between PS4 and PC. That means any progress you make on your PS4 character stays on your PS4, and any PC characters stay on your PC. You can’t transfer worlds or characters between the two platforms, so you’ll need to make a new character if you’re switching devices to play with friends. I learned this the hard way when I tried to transfer my endgame PC character to PS4 to play with my cousin, only to find out there’s no way to do it.
You also can’t share DLC or cosmetic items between platforms. If you bought the Terraria Official Soundtrack DLC on Steam, it won’t carry over to your PS4 copy of the game, and vice versa. All base game content is identical across both platforms, though, so you won’t miss out on any core gameplay if you don’t have the same DLC.
Another small limitation is that custom PC keybinds don’t carry over to PS4 controllers if you’re playing on a PS4. You’ll have to set your preferred button layout separately on each device, which only takes a minute but is worth noting if you’re used to a specific control scheme.
Finally, if you’re hosting a modded PC lobby, PS4 players won’t be able to join at all. Mods are only supported on PC, so any crossplay sessions have to use the vanilla version of the game. If you really want to play with mods, you’ll have to stick to PC-only playthroughs.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been asking is Terraria cross platform PS4 and PC, you’ll be happy to know that it’s easier than ever to play with friends across both devices. As long as you keep your game versions updated, link your accounts properly, and follow the simple setup steps I laid out, you’ll be digging through caverns and beating Moon Lord with your mixed-platform friend group in no time. I’ve put hundreds of hours into crossplay playthroughs over the past year, and it’s easily the best way to experience Terraria if you’ve got friends on different devices.