Since the game’s release in 2016, Stardew Valley has garnered millions of prospective farmers, all devoting hours to the wholesome daily toils of farm life as one of the most relaxing games on the market.

Cross-platform play, by definition, lets players play with others across other platforms and consoles. Seeing as Stardew Valley is available on many different platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, many players expected cross-platform play to be readily available. Still, there’s been no recent updates or news regarding crossplay.

Don't worry. Rivalry is here to answer all your questions about Stardew Valley cross-platform and provide you with valuable insights and answers.

Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?

Unfortunately, there are no cross-platform options available for Stardew Valley. You can only play with friends if you’re all using the same platform.

The only exception to this is that PC players can join forces with players on a Mac and vice versa. You also can't crossplay between different mobile devices, like iOS and Android. There's a possibility that crossplay community-made mods for Android and PC might support cross-platform gaming, however, these are not officially supported.

This is incredibly frustrating for console players, as one of the main aspects that draw people to the game is the multiplayer option, which lets up to four players join together and play on the same farm.

How do I play co-op in Stardew Valley?

There’s no server set-up required to play Stardew Valley co-op! All you have to do is select “Co-op” in the main menu when loading Stardew Valley. This is the same whether you’re hosting or joining other players online.

If you're hosting, ensure you’ve contracted Robin to build the required number of Farmhand Cabins before your friends move in. Every Cabin costs 100G, but require different materials. They all function the same, though, and just have different aesthetics.

Console Co-Op: PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

When setting up couch co-op for consoles, whether it’s PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch, ensure you have four controllers synced up and ready for each player. If you’re playing co-op online, you’ll need the relevant subscription, whether it’s Nintendo Switch Online, Xbox Live Gold, or PlayStation Plus.

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PC Co-Op

PC and Mac users only need to hook up another keyboard or compatible controller to play with local co-op. Through virtual platforms like Steam, players can join friends online using Remote Play, provided all players own a copy of the game and have a stable Internet connection.

Will Stardew Valley have cross-platform play in the future?

In a 2022 interview, developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone said that Stardew Valley crossplay was definitely something he wanted to add to the game, with the promise to look at it more closely. ConcernedApe is essentially a one-man band working on his own, so any crossplay advancements will understandably take a long time. 

However, it’s now been two years since this interview, and there is no news or updates regarding Stardew Valley crossplay. Players are now beginning to lose hope. This is especially true with ConcernedApe’s first priority now turning towards his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier. 

With Stardew Valley being a fairly old game eight years after its initial release, it’s becoming unlikely that cross-platform play will ever be available due to the technical barriers between different operating systems and the likelihood of newer next-gen consoles.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it; now you know there is no official cross-platform play for Stardew Valley. Regardless, we hope you found this article helpful, including the guide on starting co-op with friends on your local platforms and consoles.

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