A Palworld dedicated server is open to Steam, the Windows PC version from the Microsoft Store, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Mac players, according to Pocketpair's server guide, and Xbox and PS5 players need a community server. A PlayNHost Palworld server starts as a community server with Crossplay Platforms set to Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac, so all four are allowed from the first start.
What Pocketpair's guide says
The official Palworld server guide (version 1.0.4 of the docs) says servers "are cross-play enabled by default" for:
- the Steam version,
- Xbox series and the Windows PC version downloaded from the Microsoft Store,
- the macOS version,
- the PS5 version.
It adds that to join from Xbox or PS5, the server has to be deployed as a community server, which means it is registered in the game's server list.
How your PlayNHost server is set up
- Community server: your server starts with Palworld's community server option on every start, so it registers in the in-game list. You do not have to switch anything on.
- Crossplay Platforms: under Settings, Game Settings. The default is
Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac. Remove a platform to keep its players out: How to turn crossplay on or off on your Palworld server. - The panel's Active players card shows each player's platform (Steam, Xbox, PS5 or Mac) when the game reports it, read from the start of their user ID.
PlayNHost has not joined a server from every platform itself. The list of platforms above is Pocketpair's, and the panel sets your server up the way that guide asks.
How each platform joins
- Steam and PC: Join Multiplayer Game, paste the address into the box at the bottom, Connect: How to join your Palworld server.
- Xbox and PS5: find your server by its Server Name in the server list under Community server. Pocketpair's guide describes the list as "select Community server from the left side of the server list". A clear, unique name makes it easy to find: How to change your Palworld server name and description.
Everyone needs the same version
A player whose game has updated cannot play on a server still on the old version, and the other way round. Your server installs the newest Palworld version when it starts: How to update your Palworld server.
Does the server need its own copy of Palworld?
No. The server software is downloaded from Steam without an account, so nobody has to buy anything for the server. Every player needs their own copy of Palworld on their platform.
