How to Enable Crossplay in Grounded 2 for Seamless PC/Xbox Co-op

My Crossplay Struggles (And Why This Guide Exists)

After spending a couple of evenings trying (and failing) to join my Xbox friends from my PC in Grounded 2, I realized that crossplay isn’t always as smooth as advertised. Between mismatched versions, confusing menus, and account setup woes, I made just about every mistake possible. I wrote this guide for players who want real, firsthand solutions-because I’ve been stuck on these steps more than I’d like to admit.

Step 1: Always Update Your Game First-Seriously

This might sound basic, but I can’t stress it enough: crossplay will not work unless every player is running the exact same (and latest) version of Grounded 2. My group once spent 30 minutes wondering why invites failed, only to realize my buddy on Xbox hadn’t updated his game. Double-check by opening your platform’s game details and pressing the “Check for Updates” button. On PC, this is through Steam or the Microsoft Store; on Xbox, press Menu → Manage game & add-ons → Updates.

• PC (Steam/Microsoft Store): Right-click Grounded 2 in your library → Check for updates.
• Xbox: From your dashboard, press Menu on the game icon → Manage game and add-ons → Updates.

Pro tip: Updates can be large. Get everyone to update before your actual play session starts, or you’ll waste precious gaming time waiting.

Step 2: Initial Crossplay Activation-Don’t Skip This!

On your first Grounded 2 launch, you should be prompted with a “Enable Crossplay?” message. Do not skip or dismiss this prompt lightly—I did, and it added extra steps later. Accept the prompt to link your account for crossplay immediately and save yourself a headache.

• If you already have an Xbox account, log in using your credentials.
• If not, head to account.xbox.com on your browser to create one (takes 2 minutes and is free).

Once logged in, Grounded 2 will link your saves and multiplayer profile to your Xbox account. This isn’t just for crossplay—it’s also how cross-progression works (more on that later).

If You Skipped Activation, Here’s How to Fix It

I skipped the initial activation (my first big mistake), but luckily, Grounded 2 lets you enable crossplay from the main menu. Here’s how I fixed it:

• PC: Open the main menu, hit F1 to bring up the crossplay interface, then follow the prompts to log in or enable crossplay.
• Xbox: Look for a small red button at the bottom right of the main screen. Press it to bring up crossplay settings.
• Alternatively, go to Options → Game/Party and look for a crossplay toggle.

After this, you may need to restart the game for changes to apply. If you’re not seeing your friends online, double-check that both of you have crossplay enabled and are on the same version.

Step 3: Add Friends by Gamertag—Not Platform

This is where most people (myself included) trip up. Grounded 2’s crossplay works via Xbox Live—so everything revolves around Xbox Gamertags. It doesn’t matter if you’re on PC Steam, Microsoft Store, or Xbox console: you must add friends using their Gamertag.

• From the main menu, open the social/friends tab.
• Find Add Friend or Invite option.
• Enter your friend’s exact Xbox Gamertag (case matters).
• Once they accept the request, you’ll see them available when setting up a multiplayer lobby or in your friends list.

If you try using Steam or other non-Xbox usernames, you won’t find your friend—use the full Gamertag (including any number).

Step 4: Invite Friends into Your Game (Across PC & Xbox)

Inviting friends is smooth once you’re all Xbox account-linked and friends. Here’s what works based on my experience:

• Start a multiplayer “Host Online Game” from the main menu.
• On the lobby screen, find the Invite Friends option.
• Select your friends from the Gamertag list (cross-platform friends will appear here if properly connected).
• Send the invitation; your friend will be prompted in their game menu (or Windows Game Bar for PC users).
• Players can join mid-session as long as slots are open and the game is set to “Friends Can Join”.

Heads up: We had issues where invites didn’t show up until restarting the game or even rebooting the PC/Xbox. If you’re not seeing invitations, try this before troubleshooting deeper.

Tuning Your Multiplayer Experience—Social Options

Grounded 2 gives solid control over your multiplayer sessions through the social options menu. Here’s what I tweak before every big co-op session:

• Profile Preview: Customize what information friends and strangers can see about you.
• Invite Permissions: Decide who is allowed to send you invites—friends only or anyone.
• Session Visibility: Choose between open, friends-only, or invite-only lobbies.

Pro Tip: For stability and avoiding random players, I recommend “Friends Only” for most crossplay sessions.

Cross-Progression: Swapping Between PC and Xbox

One of my favorite discoveries: Your progress is saved to your Xbox account cloud, not your device. That means you can play on Xbox One/Series X, then continue exactly where you left off on PC (and vice versa)—as long as you log into the same Xbox account. This works even between Steam and Xbox console, provided you use the Xbox login.

• To transfer progress, simply log in with your Xbox account credentials on the new platform.
• Your world saves, character progress, and unlocks will be ready to go.

Warning: Local saves not tied to Xbox Live won’t sync—always play crossplay games using the cloud profile if you want progression to transfer.

Common Pitfalls (I Made All of These—So You Don’t Have To)

• Launching the game before updating: always check for updates first.
• Trying to play with Steam usernames instead of Gamertags—doesn’t work for crossplay.
• Ignoring/revoking the initial crossplay prompt, leading to confusion later.
• Invites not appearing due to being on the wrong version, or crossplay not enabled—double-check settings if you can’t connect.
• Not restarting the game after changing crossplay settings.
• Overlooking the social menu for privacy/invite settings—set it up before your co-op night to save hassle.

Fast Recap & Next Steps

If you’re having trouble meeting up with friends across PC and Xbox in Grounded 2, the solution is almost always in these steps: update your game, enable crossplay (with an Xbox account), add friends by Gamertag, and use the in-game invite system. Double-check your social settings if lobbies aren’t working, and lean on cross-progression to swap platforms without penalty. It took me a few frustrating nights to get it right—trust me, if you follow this, you’ll be building bases with friends cross-platform in no time.

Still stuck? Don’t give up! Usually, a restart or update solves even the thorniest crossplay woes. Once it clicks, the process is smooth for future sessions—and it’s absolutely worth the trouble to play together on any platform.