ARC Raiders supports full cross-platform play across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via both Steam and the Epic Games Store). Whatever your setup, you can squad up with friends on any supported platform — and it works from the moment you boot the game, no complicated setup required.
Here’s everything you need to know about enabling crossplay and connecting with friends across different platforms.
Why Crossplay Matters in ARC Raiders
Extraction shooters like ARC Raiders thrive on teamwork and coordination. The game throws challenging ARC Machines and rival player squads at you, making solo runs significantly harder. With crossplay enabled, you’re not limited to finding teammates only on your own platform — you can build your ideal squad from your entire friend list, regardless of hardware.
A larger player pool also means faster matchmaking and a healthier community overall. Crossplay is enabled by default, so most players are already in the same pool without realising it.
Enabling Crossplay: Your First Step
Crossplay is turned on by default when you first launch ARC Raiders. If you’ve previously disabled it or want to double-check it’s active, toggling it back on takes only a few seconds. The steps are identical on all platforms — PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Step-by-step:
- Open Settings – Click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the main menu
- Go to the Gameplay tab – This is the first tab in the settings menu
- Scroll to the Online section – Within the Gameplay tab, scroll down until you see the Online area
- Toggle Crossplay to On – It’s likely already enabled by default, but confirm it here
Once enabled, you’ll see Crossplay: On displayed on the main menu near the Play button so you always know your current status at a glance.
Important: There is no console-only crossplay filter. Enabling crossplay on Xbox or PS5 means you’ll be matched with PC players as well — you cannot limit it to consoles only.
Pro tip: While you’re in the Gameplay tab, you can also adjust your region in the Server settings. Set it to Automatic or select the server closest to you to reduce lag during firefights.
Understanding Embark ID: The Key to Cross-Platform Friends
ARC Raiders connects all players through an Embark ID rather than platform-specific usernames. Think of it as your universal identifier that works across PS5, Xbox, Steam, and the Epic Games Store — similar to how Epic Games’ account system works for Fortnite.
Your Embark ID follows the format YourUsername#1234 (your display name followed by four unique digits). This is what friends on other platforms need to add you, and vice versa. If you’ve previously played The Finals, you already have an Embark ID and can use the same account.
Embark ID also enables cross-progression — your unlocks, cosmetics, and progress carry across all platforms when you’re signed into the same Embark account.
How to Find Your Embark ID
You don’t need to leave the game to find your Embark ID. It’s displayed directly in the in-game Social menu:
- Open the Social menu – Select the Social button (person icon) in the bottom-right of the Lobby screen
- Find your ID – Your Embark ID is displayed in the top-left of the Social menu in the format DisplayName#1234
- Share it – Copy or screenshot the full ID, including the four digits after the hashtag, and send it to friends via Discord, text, or however you normally communicate
Alternatively, select Manage Embark ID from the party menu to open the Embark ID portal in your browser, where you can also link additional platform accounts to the same ID. There’s a QR code in-game you can scan to reach the portal quickly on mobile.
Adding Friends in ARC Raiders
Once you have your friend’s Embark ID, adding them is straightforward:
- Open the Social menu from the bottom-right of the Lobby screen
- Select the Friends tab
- Click Add Friend in the upper-right of the menu
- Type or paste their complete Embark ID — the four digits after the # are required, or the request won’t resolve
- Confirm to send the friend request and wait for them to accept
Once they accept, they’ll appear in your friends list. You can then invite them to your party before launching into expeditions. Same-platform friends who also play ARC Raiders will appear in the party menu automatically — no Embark ID needed for those.
Quick Troubleshooting Tips
Crossplay not working? Both you and your friends need to have crossplay enabled — it won’t work if one person has it toggled off. Also check that your region isn’t set to a distant server, which can cause matchmaking mismatches.
Crossplay won’t turn on from your Xbox? Your Xbox account’s privacy settings can override the in-game toggle. Go to Settings → Account → Privacy & online safety → Xbox privacy → View details & customise → Communication & multiplayer and make sure cross-network play is allowed.
Friend request not going through? Double-check that you’ve entered the Embark ID exactly as written — those four digits after the hashtag are required, and a single wrong character will prevent the request from sending. Try removing and re-adding via Embark ID if a request appears stuck.
Can’t find your Embark ID in-game? Open the Social menu from the Lobby screen — your ID appears in the top-left. You can also select Manage Embark ID or scan the in-game QR code to confirm it on the Embark portal at id.embark.games.
Can’t matchmake at all? Go to Settings → Gameplay → Server and set your region to Automatic. This is separate from the Crossplay toggle and can prevent matches if set incorrectly.
Ready to Squad Up
With crossplay enabled and your Embark ID shared, you’re ready to build your team and tackle Topside together. ARC Raiders is significantly more enjoyable with coordinated teammates watching your flanks, calling out threats, and helping you extract with valuable loot.
The extraction shooter genre rewards communication and teamwork above almost everything else — so gather your squad, hop into voice chat, and make those runs out of Speranza count.
Useful Links:
- Official ARC Raiders Website
- Embark ID Official Support Page
- ARC Raiders on PlayStation Store
- ARC Raiders on Xbox Store
Happy raiding, and may your extractions be successful!
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