Short answer: no, Valorant is not crossplay between PC and console, and it never will be by Riot’s own design. PC players stay in their own pool, and console players (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S) queue only against other console players. If you’re wondering whether you can duo with your friend on a different platform, this guide covers exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how your account carries over.
Is Valorant Crossplay? The Direct Answer
Valorant does not support crossplay between PC and console. This is a deliberate decision from Riot Games to protect the game’s competitive integrity.
Here’s the split at a glance:
| Platforms | Crossplay? |
|---|---|
| PC ↔ PS5 | No |
| PC ↔ Xbox Series X|S | No |
| PS5 ↔ Xbox Series X|S | Yes (console pool) |
| PC ↔ PC | Yes (single global PC pool) |
Console players on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S do share matchmaking with each other. So if you’re on PlayStation and your friend is on Xbox, you can party up and queue together.
If you’re brand new to the game entirely, our valorant beginners guide is the fastest way to get up to speed before you jump into your first match.
Why Riot Won’t Enable PC-Console Crossplay
The core reason is simple: mouse and keyboard vs. controller is not a fair fight in a tactical shooter where a single headshot ends the round. Riot has stated that mixing input methods would break the precise, one-tap gunplay Valorant is built around.
There are three real barriers:
- Input parity. Valorant’s TTK is extremely low. Micro-flicks and pixel-precise crosshair placement favor mouse input in a way controller aim assist cannot fully close.
- Ability precision. Utility like Sova’s Recon Bolt, Viper’s Snake Bite lineups, and KAY/O’s FRAG/ment throws often rely on precise arc lineups that play differently on stick vs. mouse.
- Anti-cheat and platform rules. Vanguard on PC and the console versions run different security stacks tied to each platform’s certification process.
Riot has been consistent: the PC and console versions are separate ecosystems that happen to share the same game.
What About Cross-Progression?
This is where the news gets better. Valorant supports cross-progression across PC and console using a single Riot account.
When you log into Valorant on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S with the same Riot account you use on PC, the following carries over:
- Agent unlocks and Agent Contract progress
- Owned skins and weapon collections
- Valorant Points (VP) and Radianite Points (RP) / Kingdom Credits
- Player Card, Title, and Spray collection
- Battle Pass progress on the active Act
What does not sync: your competitive rank and ranked match history are separate per platform. Your Immortal rank on PC does not follow you to console; you’ll need to complete placement matches on the new platform.
If you’re planning to grind Competitive on both, it’s worth reading up on how Valorant matchmaking works so you know what to expect on each pool.
Console-Specific Restrictions You Should Know
Riot introduced some guardrails on the console version that don’t exist on PC. These are the ones that trip most players up.
Ranked Requires Same-Platform Parties
On console, you can only queue Competitive with players on the same console family. A PS5 player cannot duo Ranked with an Xbox Series X|S player, even though they share the general matchmaking pool for Unrated. Unrated and casual modes allow mixed-console parties.
No Peripheral Adapters
Riot explicitly bans mouse and keyboard adapters (like XIM or Cronus) on console Valorant. Detection results in restrictions on your account. This is enforced to keep the console pool controller-only.
Hardware Requirements
Valorant console runs only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is not available on PS4 or Xbox One, and there’s no Nintendo Switch version. Riot has not announced plans for older-gen support.
For a full look at how the game handles system resources, our breakdown of Valorant CPU or GPU intensive explains what actually matters on PC.
What Platforms Is Valorant On?
Here’s the complete platform list as it stands:
| Platform | Available? | Crossplay With |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Windows) | Yes | Other PC only |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | Xbox Series X|S |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | PlayStation 5 |
| PS4 | No | N/A |
| Xbox One | No | N/A |
| Nintendo Switch | No | N/A |
| Mac | No | N/A |
| Mobile (iOS/Android) | No (separate game in development) | N/A |
Valorant Mobile is a separate title being developed by Riot, not a port. It will not share matchmaking or progression with the PC or console versions.
Can You Party Up Across Platforms?
Here’s how party invites actually work:
- PC to PC: Full crossplay within the PC region.
- PS5 to Xbox Series X|S: Works in Unrated and casual modes. Restricted in Competitive.
- PC to any console: Not supported. You cannot invite a console friend to a PC lobby or vice versa.
If you want to play with a friend on a different ecosystem, one of you has to switch platforms. The good news is your skins and cosmetics travel with you thanks to cross-progression.
Will PC-Console Crossplay Ever Happen?
Riot’s public stance has been clear and repeated: crossplay between PC and console is not planned. The competitive design philosophy of Valorant treats input method as a first-class balance concern, and mixing pools would undermine that.
What could change: optional crossplay for casual, non-ranked modes has been discussed by the community but has not been committed to by Riot. As of now, it is not a feature and no timeline exists.
If Riot ever announces movement on this, we’ll update this page. Bookmark our Valorant patch notes hub to catch any official changes as they ship.
The Bottom Line
Valorant is not crossplay between PC and console, and Riot has no plans to change that. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players do share a matchmaking pool with each other, and your Riot account carries skins, VP, and cosmetic progress across all platforms, but your competitive rank stays platform-specific.
Open questions the community is still watching:
- Whether Riot ever introduces optional crossplay for casual modes
- Whether a Nintendo Switch or handheld PC-optimized version is on the roadmap
- How Valorant Mobile will handle account linking when it launches
If your play group is split across PC and console, the honest answer is that Unrated on shared consoles is your best bet, and PC players will need their own squad. For everything else you can do to sharpen your game right now, check our Valorant tips and tricks roundup.