Rainbow Six Siege Crossplay: Consoles Only, Cross-Progression

My quick take, because your queue is popping

As someone who’s coached, scrimmed, and screamed at drones in Siege for 10+ years, here’s the fast answer you want: yes, console-to-console crossplay is on for Rainbow Six Siege. But PC does not match with consoles. Cross-progression works across everything through Ubisoft Connect. If you came here wondering “is r6 crossplay” and whether PS5 can play with Xbox Series X|S, yep. PS4 with PS5? Yep. Xbox One with Series X|S? Yep. PC with anyone else? No. That’s the whole shape of it. Cross-platform, cross-progression, PS5, Xbox, PC—messy but clear.

If you’re new to the game itself (bless your heart), the Rainbow Six Siege page gives a tidy summary of why people like me argue over recoil values like it’s religion.

How it actually works right now

Quick terms, no fluff: “Crossplay” lets different systems match together. If you want a more formal breakdown, this is what cross-platform play actually means. Siege keeps PC in its own pool. Consoles have their own shared pool. Cross-progression (skins, operators, renown, etc.) travels with your Ubisoft account across all platforms.

Console to console: yes

PlayStation and Xbox players can squad and match together. PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One—call it “cross-gen” inside a single console family and “console crossplay” between Sony and Microsoft. You’ll see a little platform icon in the squad list. It’s simple. It finally works like it should have years ago.

For the most up-to-date toggles, playlists, and “we adjusted recoil again, sorry” moments, I keep an eye on Ubisoft’s official news feed. If they ever flip PC-to-console on (unlikely), it’ll show up there first.

PC with consoles: no (and here’s why)

Mouse and keyboard vs controller. That’s the entire fight. Input-based matchmaking sounds nice until you add anti-cheat, spoofing, and the lovely world of third-party adapters. Siege is twitchy. A single frame matters. I get why Ubisoft keeps the walls up here, even if my group text doesn’t.

If you want to see how other games handle this, here’s a handy list of games that support cross-platform play. Siege is not the most generous on PC-console mixing, but it’s not the most stubborn either.

Cross-progression: the part they nailed

I bounce between PC and PS5, and my skins, renown, and bought operators follow me. Ubisoft Connect does the heavy lifting. If you ever bought Ash Elite on one platform and don’t see it on another, it’s usually an account-linking hiccup—not a “gotcha” from the store.

Heads up for console settings: some parents lock cross-network play without telling you. If your invite fails on Xbox, check the Xbox cross-network play settings. I’ve fixed more party join issues by toggling that than by restarting routers. Which I still do. Out of habit. And rage.

So… how do you enable or disable it?

In my experience, half the “it doesn’t work” messages are just settings. On console, go to Options > Gameplay > Crossplay. Toggle it. Reboot the game if it acts stubborn. On PC, you don’t have a crossplay toggle for console pools because, again, that wall doesn’t exist.

• Make sure Ubisoft Connect is linked to your console accounts.
• Check privacy settings (PSN/Xbox) for cross-network permissions.
• Restart the game after you change the toggle. Siege is moody.
• If your friend lives on the other region’s servers, matchmaking time can spike. Patience.

When I want a chill night after ranked drains my soul, I pivot to co-op and split-screen. If that’s your vibe too, I put together some favorite co-op games like It Takes Two that actually make people laugh more than they yell “rotate!”

Why Ubisoft keeps PC apart (my take)

Input disparity isn’t theory; it’s visible. On PC, peekers advantage, higher FPS, and millisecond flicks shape the meta. On console, time-to-kill feels different, recoil is managed with aim assist in mind (even in tiny ways), and—yes—anti-cheat headaches scale differently. Letting PC and console match would turn every round into a think-piece about adapters. Hard pass from me.

For a broader look at how games juggle platforms without losing their minds, I wrote up some Stardew Valley cross-platform notes—not the same genre, but the tradeoffs rhyme.

Quick table: what matches with what

“But my friend still can’t join.” Quick checks.

• Are you in the same data center/region? If not, someone might get rerouted.
• Is crossplay toggled on for both of you on console?
• Did you both update? Siege throws quiet version mismatches.
• Is one of you shadow-banned for “reasons”? It happens. Appeal it.

I like to remind folks that “crossplay” and “good netcode” are separate arguments. Even perfect cross-platform lobbies can’t fix your roommate streaming 12 tabs of 4K cat videos. When I want pure two-player magic without the packet-loss drama, here are two-player co-op games that never fail.

Mini blog within the blog: common questions I get

Can I carry my stuff from console to PC?

Yes. I moved from PS4 to PC years back and my cosmetics followed me. Renown, boosters, operators—all tied to Ubisoft Connect. The only weirdness is platform-exclusive promos. Those stay where they were born.

If you’re big on the overall scene talk—why crossplay splits communities, how console metas differ—my running rants live under our gaming culture tag. It’s messy. It’s fun. It’s sometimes both.

Is there input-based matchmaking on console crossplay?

Not in the “PC-style” sense. It’s still controller-first. That’s the whole point. If someone hooks up a keyboard to a console via adapters, that’s another can of worms. I’ve seen it. I report it. I move on.

And if you just need a slow, cozy reset after ranked knocks your ego sideways, here’s a stack of comfort games like The Sims that pair well with tea and not caring about elo.

Practical settings and party sanity

• Turn on crossplay for console squads; turn it off if you only want your platform.
• Use in-game voice chat sparingly. Party chat tends to be cleaner on console.
• If your ping spikes, cap your frame rate to keep frame pacing stable.
• On PC, keep V-Sync off and limit FPS via driver or in-game to reduce input lag.

I get DMs that read “so… is r6 crossplay or not?” and I always say the same thing: yes on consoles with each other, no with PC, yes for cross-progression everywhere. It’s boringly consistent. Which, in Siege land, is refreshing.

By the way, if you like games that bring friends together without the whole “peeker’s advantage” meltdown, my list of co-op games like It Takes Two is a good rabbit hole. Party night saved.

Anyway, that’s the landscape right now. I’ve seen rumors, I’ve seen “leaks,” I’ve seen spreadsheets with arrows pointing at other arrows. Until Ubisoft says otherwise, this is the setup. Play. Or don’t. I’ll be upstairs yelling at a drone on Bank.

FAQs

• Can PS5 play with Xbox in Siege?

  Yes. Console crossplay is active between PlayStation and Xbox. Turn it on in settings if it’s off.

• Does PC match with console at all?

  No. PC is its own pool. Cross-progression works across PC and console, but matchmaking does not mix.

• How do I move my skins from PS4 to PC?

  Link your accounts with Ubisoft Connect and log in on both platforms. Most items carry over automatically.

• Why can’t my friend join me on Xbox?

  Check cross-network permissions in Xbox settings, confirm crossplay is on, and make sure you’re on the same version.

• Is there ranked crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox?

  Yes. Consoles share the pool. Expect longer queues late at night, but the system works.

Henry Wright

Henry Wright: Celebrating the artistry of gaming. I cover Pixel Games, Indie Battles, Arcade Classics, Gaming Culture, and Visual Design. Let’s explore the pixels together!