Is Sons of the Forest Cross-Platform? (2026): No, Here is Why
Last updated: May 24, 2026.
Short answer: No. Sons of the Forest is PC-only (Steam, Windows). There is no PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch version, so there is no crossplay to enable. PC players can play with other PC players on Steam; mixed-platform groups currently have no way to all play together.
Platform Availability (2026)
| Platform | Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, Windows) | Yes | Full release since February 22, 2024 (1.0). Multiplayer up to 8 players. |
| PC (macOS) | Unofficial | Works via Steam Proton with reduced performance; not officially supported. |
| PC (Linux) | Unofficial | Works via Steam Proton; community-tested, not officially supported. |
| PlayStation 5 | No | Not announced. Endnight has said they are open to it but no commitments. |
| Xbox Series X/S | No | Not announced. Same Endnight position as PS5. |
| Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 | No | Not announced. |
Because the game is PC-only, the question "is Sons of the Forest cross-platform" reduces to "can a Steam Windows player play with a Steam Proton player on Linux?" The answer there is yes (same Steam build, same multiplayer session).
Why No Console Version Yet
Endnight Games is a small Vancouver-based studio (the spiritual successor to a similarly-sized team that shipped The Forest in 2018). The Forest never received an Xbox release; it shipped on PC and PS4 only, and the PS4 version was handled by an external porting partner.
Sons of the Forest's PC-only positioning is consistent with that pattern. The studio has been clear in community AMAs that:
- Their priority during Early Access (2023-2024) was finishing the PC build and adding the multiplayer, building, and AI systems the game ships with
- After 1.0 (February 2024) they considered console ports but did not commit to any timeline
- They would prefer a console port to be a high-quality build, not a rushed wrapper
- No partnership with a porting studio has been announced
As of May 2026, more than two years after 1.0 release, there is still no concrete console-port announcement. If one were coming in 2026 the marketing run-up would have started by now, so the realistic earliest console window is late 2026 to mid-2027.
What Mixed-Platform Groups Can Actually Do
If you and your friends have different platforms (one on PC, one on PlayStation, one on Xbox), the realistic options are:
- All buy Sons of the Forest on Steam. The cleanest answer. The game is regularly on sale; the entire group on the same platform unlocks multiplayer.
- Pick a different survival game that is cross-platform. Valheim is cross-platform across PC + Xbox + PS5 (since 2026), Palworld is across PC + Xbox + PS5 (since 2025), and Core Keeper has limited Xbox-PC crossplay. None of them are quite Sons of the Forest, but they scratch the same survival itch.
- Wait for a console version. No firm timeline. If your group will tolerate the wait, monitor Endnight's social media; an announcement will be obvious.
Sons of the Forest PC Multiplayer (What Does Work)
On PC, multiplayer is straightforward:
- Player count: Up to 8 players in a single co-op session
- Hosting: Any player can host a session directly from their game; or you can rent a dedicated server
- Dedicated server: Endnight ships an official dedicated server tool. Hosted servers run persistent worlds that survive even when no players are online
- PvP: Not a primary mode; co-op is the focus
- Mods: Limited modding scene; most "mods" are save editors and trainers rather than full content additions
For setup help on a dedicated server see the dedicated server setup article. For specific gameplay help see the other articles in this Sons of the Forest section.
Common Questions
"Will my Steam friends list show my friend who has it on Xbox?"
Your friend does not have it on Xbox because there is no Xbox version. If they tell you they bought "Sons of the Forest" on Xbox, they may have actually bought "The Forest" (the predecessor, which does exist on PS4 but not Xbox). Or they bought something else entirely.
"Can I cross-save my Sons of the Forest progress to console later?"
Hypothetical question with no answer. If a console version ever ships, Endnight has not committed to either cross-save or cross-progression. The Forest never had cross-save between PC and PS4, which is the precedent.
"What about Steam Deck?"
Steam Deck runs Sons of the Forest well via Proton. A Deck player joins the same multiplayer session as Windows players; no special setup. The Deck is, for crossplay purposes, just another Steam client.
"Is there any rumor or leak about console release?"
No credible leaks or rumours as of May 2026. Periodic Reddit speculation appears but is consistently debunked by community moderators. Real console announcements come from the developer through their official channels, not from datamines or marketplace leaks.
Related Sons of the Forest Guides
Looking to host a Sons of the Forest dedicated server with daily backups and instant setup? See Sons of the Forest plans. Up to 8 players, persistent world, panel-managed mods and save backups included.