Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 has brought about a ton of improvements and updates over the original Overwatch. With that said, the question of whether the game supports crossplay or, whether you can use the same account on multiple platforms using cross-platform remains unanswered.
Yes, Overwatch 2 supports crossplay, cross-platform, and cross-progression. You can use the same account on multiple platforms and play with your friends across them, whether you use a keyboard and mouse or a controller.
In this article, we’re going to go over the exact differences between crossplay and cross-platform support on Overwatch 2, how to enable it, and whether there are any inherent disadvantages to doing so.
Is Overwatch 2 Crossplay?
Yes, Overwatch 2 supports crossplay. This means that players from PC and consoles can play together and will have mixed-matchmaking pools if you have players from multiple platforms in the same party. However, the way Blizzard has implemented this system so far raises some eyebrows.
Disadvantages Of Crossplay For Console Players
If you are a console player who plays with PC players, you’ll be put in the PC pool instead. In this pool, there’s no guarantee that players on the opposing end will be playing on a console or not. While Blizzard will try to place you in a mixed setting, that may not always happen. This leads to two distinct issues:
- Lack of Aim Assist: Console players (who typically use Aim Assist when playing against console players) are not able to use Aim Assist even if there’s only one PC player in your party.
- Keyboard and Mouse Supremacy: Let’s face it, you can be more precise and accurate with a keyboard and mouse. And, when you are up against a Widowmaker headshotting you with her ZOWIE mouse across the map while you try and move, it won’t be a very fun experience.
- Unbalanced Gameplay: Imagine having one PC player in your party while the other team has five. Even if you are an excellent controller player, the flicks landing on you will lead to very stream-rolley gameplay, something Overwatch 1 ended up being hated for, too.
How To Enable Crossplay On Overwatch 2
Crossplay on Overwatch 2 is enabled by default if you add a player from a different platform to your party. However, there are a few platforms, such as the Xbox, where you’ll need to go through a setting before you enable the option. Here’s how:Open your Xbox dashboard and head to Settings
- After doing so, select Privacy & Online Safety
- Now, head to Xbox Privacy and select View Details and Customize
- Select Communication & Multiplayer
- Once there, change You can join cross-network play and choose Allow
The option should now be available on your Xbox!
How To Invite Crossplay Friends In Party On Overwatch 2
Every Overwatch 2 player needs to have a Battle.net account regardless of their console to play the game. This makes adding friends from different platforms quite easy. You can still add friends from your own console using Xbox Live or PSN.
However, to add a PC player, you’ll need to use their Battle tag instead. This is located in the upper right corner of your screen. And, depending on your platform, you’ll need to hover over the Battle tag to be able to see it:
After you’ve got your friend’s Battle tag or have told them yours, all you need to do is hit the Friends icon shown above in the rectangular box, add them to your friends, invite them to your party and you’ll be ready to play a match.
NOTE: Depending on what platform you and your friends are on, you’ll either be placed on the Console or the PC pool.
Is Overwatch 2 Cross-platform / Support Cross-progression?
Yes, Overwatch 2 is cross-platform and also supports cross-progression between the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS, and Xbox. In essence, you can use one account to play the game on all four different platforms, with your progress being carried over to each platform and stored.
For PC players, this is fairly simple. All you need to do is login to the same Battle.net account you had, and you’ll have your Overwatch 1 progress transferred. However, if you are on a console, the process is a bit different.
To use cross-progression through all your platforms, you’ll need to do an Account Merge. Here’s how you can do so from the console of your choosing.
- Login to Overwatch from the platform of your choice (PS, Xbox, Switch)
- After doing so, follow the prompts on the screen and use your phone to scan a QR code
- Depending on your region, you may be asked to verify your phone number as well (annoying, we know.)
- Now, use your phone to connect your Battle.net account to your console account. Or, instead, create a new one entirely.
If you have multiple accounts on different platforms, you will only be able to link one to one Battle.net account. So, choose wisely. As of yet, you cannot unlink the account from a particular platform once it has been linked.
However, you can use the same account on all of your platforms and have your progress carried over. As of yet, even if you don’t use the cross-progression feature, you will still need to create a Battle.net account for Overwatch 2 to be able to access it on any console. The same was already true for PC since Overwatch 1.
Conclusion
Overwatch 2 now supports cross-platform, crossplay, and cross-progression. While the removal of aim assist and the lack of a mixed pool leads to a bit of controversy – it still is a welcome approach, and we’re expecting updates to iron out the kinks as we move on further.
