The Short Answer
Yes, Rainbow Six Siege has crossplay — but it is not a single free-for-all pool. Ubisoft splits matchmaking into two environments: a console pool (PlayStation and Xbox together) and a PC pool. Console players can play with each other freely, and console players can squad with PC friends, but the moment a PC player joins the squad, the whole group moves into the PC pool.
Cross-progression is fully supported alongside this: your operators, cosmetics, battle pass progress, rank, and stats carry across every platform through your Ubisoft Connect account. You log in with one Ubisoft account, and your progress follows you.
The details below reflect how the system works as of 2026. Ubisoft adjusts matchmaking rules and menu layouts from time to time, so treat anything that looks like an exact menu label as "check your Options menu to confirm" rather than gospel.
What Crossplay Actually Means in Siege
Crossplay in R6 Siege means players on different platforms can squad up and match against each other — within the constraints of the two-pool system. Here is how each combination works.
Console to console (the default pool). PlayStation and Xbox players are in one unified console matchmaking pool. That includes cross-generation play: PS4 with PS5, Xbox One with Xbox Series X/S. If your squad is console-only, you will never face a PC opponent. Ranked, unranked, and quick match all treat this as one environment.
PC to console (the optional jump). PC players can play with console friends. There is one hard rule: adding a single PC player to a squad moves the entire group into PC matchmaking. The PC player does not come down into the console-only pool. This is deliberate — mouse and keyboard aim is a real competitive advantage, and Ubisoft keeps the console pool input-fair.
Console players in the PC pool. When you join a PC squad from a console, the game tracks a separate PC rank for you in addition to your console rank. Your console rank stays untouched; your PC-pool performance builds its own rating. That separation is fair — your 1v1 duels against mouse-and-keyboard players should not count the same as your controller-vs-controller games.
Console mouse-and-keyboard users. Console players who use supported native mouse and keyboard controls are also directed into the PC crossplay pool. This keeps the controller-focused console pool balanced and closes the obvious loophole.
Which Platforms Can Play Together
Every platform that runs Siege can connect through crossplay. The table below summarizes the combinations:
| Platform | Console pool | PC pool |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect) | Joins PC pool when squadded with console | Default |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | Yes (with PC squadmate) |
| PlayStation 4 | Yes | Yes (with PC squadmate) |
| Xbox Series X/S | Yes | Yes (with PC squadmate) |
| Xbox One | Yes | Yes (with PC squadmate) |
In practice: two friends on PS5 and Xbox Series X can queue Ranked together with zero configuration. A PS5 player and a PC player can squad, but they will face PC opponents. Nobody gets quietly dropped into the wrong pool — the rule is one PC player in the squad, and everyone knows where they are going.
Cross-Progression: Your Account Follows You
Crossplay gets you into games together; cross-progression makes sure your account is the same everywhere. Link your platform accounts to one Ubisoft Connect account and the following carry over:
- Operators unlocked — every operator you own is available on every platform.
- Cosmetics — skins, charms, seasonal items, and most unlocks transfer.
- Battle Pass progress — one shared pass, not one per platform.
- Rank and stats — your standing follows your account (with the separate PC/console rank rule above).
A few caveats worth knowing. Some platform-specific items do not transfer between ecosystems. R6 Credits balances have historically been platform-specific because of storefront restrictions — do not assume a purchase on one store shows up everywhere. And if you play on multiple platforms, link your accounts early; it saves a surprising amount of hassle later.
This is also why the R6 account security guide matters more than it looks. One Ubisoft account now controls your operators, cosmetics, rank, and progress on every platform you own. A compromised account is a much bigger loss than it used to be.
How to Enable or Disable Crossplay
Crossplay is enabled by default in Siege. Only console players can toggle it; on PC it is always on when you are invited into mixed lobbies.
On PlayStation and Xbox:
1. Launch Rainbow Six Siege.
2. Open the Options menu from the main screen.
3. Select the General tab.
4. Find Crossplay Matchmaking.
5. Toggle it on or off, then apply the change.
Menu wording shifts with interface updates, but the setting lives in the general or matchmaking section. If a cross-platform friend cannot join your party, check this setting first — with crossplay off, some invites simply fail without a clear error message, which causes more confusion than almost anything else in this system.
Xbox players have one additional lever: the console-level privacy settings under Account → Privacy & online safety → Xbox privacy can restrict cross-network play system-wide, which overrides the in-game setting.
PC players cannot disable crossplay. If you are on PC, you are available for crossplay whenever a console friend invites you. For most PC players this is a non-issue — your matchmaking pool does not change because someone accepted your invite.
Playing With Friends Across Platforms: What to Expect
Setting up a cross-platform squad is straightforward once everyone is linked:
1. Make sure everyone is logged in through the same Ubisoft Connect ecosystem (accounts linked).
2. Console players confirm Crossplay Matchmaking is on.
3. Send the invite through the Ubisoft Connect overlay.
4. Queue together — the squad leader's platform mix determines the pool.
Now the honest part: expectation management matters more than the setup. A console player joining a PC squad should expect to face mouse-and-keyboard opponents. That is not a small detail in a game as precise as Siege. Some console players adapt quickly; others find the experience frustrating after a few sessions.
Practical advice for mixed squads:
- Start with unranked or quick match. Do not test your first PC-pool games in Ranked. Learn the pace first.
- Play to the console player's strengths. Information, positioning, and utility usage translate perfectly across input methods. A well-droned push works the same on both.
- Consider role swaps. If the aim gap shows, put the console player on support/anchor roles where game sense outweighs flick speed. This is also exactly what our best operators for beginners guide recommends for new players generally.
- Talk about it honestly. The fastest way to ruin cross-platform sessions is pretending the input gap does not exist. Acknowledge it, plan around it, and play the modes where it matters least.
Ranked Implications
Ranked is where the pool rules matter most, so here is the breakdown:
- Console-only squads play console-pool Ranked. Your console rank is at stake, opponents are controller players, and the environment is the one you are used to.
- Mixed squads (any PC player present) play PC-pool Ranked. Console members earn a separate PC rank, not their console rank.
- You cannot game the system. There is no configuration that puts a PC player into the console-only pool. The direction of travel is always console → PC pool, never the reverse.
This is genuinely well designed for competitive integrity. The separate-rank system means a console player experimenting in PC lobbies does not tank the console rank they care about, and console Ranked stays input-fair. If you take Ranked seriously on console, the default console pool is the right home — treat PC-pool games as a fun side experiment, not your main climb.
Limitations and Caveats
No crossplay implementation is perfect, and Siege's has edges worth knowing:
- Policies and menus change. Ubisoft has revised the crossplay rollout several times (console-only at first, PC added later). Assume future seasons may tweak pools or settings, and re-check the Options menu after major updates.
- PC cannot opt out. Console players get a toggle; PC players do not. This is by design, not an oversight.
- Voice chat and party systems. Cross-platform voice works through the in-game systems, but party invites can be finicky when someone has crossplay disabled. When in doubt, everyone restarts the game after changing the setting.
- Cloud and secondary platforms. Siege is playable on services like Luna within the PC ecosystem, but online play on devices like Steam Deck is blocked by anti-cheat compatibility. Do not plan around platforms Ubisoft has not officially supported.
- Platform-specific purchases. As noted above, some items and credit balances do not transfer. Buy cosmetics on the platform where you play most.
- Ping and data centers. Crossplay does not fix geography. A console player in one region squadding with a PC player across an ocean will still deal with high ping — check our input lag guide and ping troubleshooting separately.
Practical Advice: Which Setup Is Right for You
Console player, friends all on console: Do nothing. The default console pool is input-fair and needs no configuration. Leave Crossplay Matchmaking on so you can match with the full PlayStation+Xbox player base.
Console player, PC friends: Turn crossplay on, expect the PC pool, and start in unranked. If you love it, keep going; if the aim gap bothers you, there is no shame in keeping your cross-platform sessions casual and your Ranked grind console-only.
Console player, competitive-minded: Turn crossplay *off* if you want the tightest possible controller-only environment. You will match only your console ecosystem, which some players prefer for Ranked focus.
PC player: Crossplay is invisible to you unless you invite console friends. Your day-to-day matchmaking never changes.
Multi-platform owner: Link everything to one Ubisoft Connect account on day one. Cross-progression is the real prize here — one set of operators, one battle pass, one rank history, everywhere you play.
New player deciding platforms: If your friends are split across platforms, the console pool is the friendliest shared ground. If everyone is on PC, PC is the competitive standard. Either way, pair your platform choice with solid fundamentals — our best R6 PC settings guide for PC players and the R6 controller settings guide for console players cover the setup side.
Common Crossplay Mistakes
Turning crossplay off, then wondering why invites fail. This is the number one support-style issue. Check the setting before anything else.
Assuming ranks are shared across pools. They are not — a console player's PC-pool rank and console rank are separate. Do not panic when your "rank" looks different in a mixed squad.
Queueing Ranked for your first mixed-pool session. Learn the pace in unranked first. The skill expression in PC lobbies is real.
Buying credits on the wrong platform. If balances do not transfer between storefronts, that purchase stays where you made it. Buy on your main platform.
Ignoring account security. One Ubisoft account now guards progress across every platform. Enable two-factor authentication and keep recovery details current.
Blaming crossplay for ping. If your cross-region squad lags, that is geography and routing, not the crossplay system. Troubleshoot your connection separately.
FAQ
Is Rainbow Six Siege crossplay between PC and Xbox?
Yes — a PC player and an Xbox player can squad up together. The whole squad then plays in the PC matchmaking pool against PC opponents. There is no way to bring the PC player into the console-only pool.
Is Rainbow Six Siege crossplay between PS4 and PS5?
Yes. Cross-generation play within the PlayStation family works, and PlayStation players also share the console pool with Xbox players. Generations are not split.
Can I turn off crossplay in Rainbow Six Siege?
On console, yes: Options → General → Crossplay Matchmaking. Turning it off restricts you to your own console ecosystem. On PC, crossplay cannot be disabled.
Does my rank carry over between platforms?
Your account progress carries over through Ubisoft Connect, but console players who join PC squads earn a separate PC rank alongside their console rank. The pools track performance independently.
Does cross-progression include R6 Credits?
Most progress transfers — operators, cosmetics, battle pass, rank, stats. R6 Credits balances have historically been platform-specific due to storefront restrictions, so do not assume purchases move between platforms. This can change, so verify in-game before buying.
Will console players face cheaters more in the PC pool?
The PC pool is where PC-specific cheating concerns live, and it is a legitimate consideration. Ubisoft's anti-cheat applies across pools, but if you are worried, keep your competitive play in the console pool and treat PC-pool sessions as casual.
The Bottom Line
Rainbow Six Siege's crossplay is genuinely good — it just has one rule you need to internalize: console players and PC players share squads, but they do not share matchmaking pools. Console-only squads stay in the input-fair console pool; any PC player in the squad moves everyone to the PC pool. Cross-progression ties it all together through one Ubisoft account.
The system works best when you pick your pool deliberately: console pool for competitive controller play, PC pool for cross-platform sessions with friends, and the right expectations for each. Link your accounts, check the Crossplay Matchmaking setting when invites fail, and remember that menu labels and policies can shift between seasons — the pool rule is the part that matters.
Once your platform setup is sorted, the next gains come from the game itself: dial in your setup with the best R6 PC settings guide or the R6 controller settings guide, lock down your account with the R6 account security guide, and pick forgiving operators from our best operators for beginners list while you adjust.