Is Stardew Valley Cross-Platform? PC, Console and Mobile
Find out which Stardew Valley versions can play together, how Steam and GOG players connect, and where mobile co-op, GameShare and save transfers fit.
Stardew Valley does not offer universal crossplay. PC players can play across Windows, macOS and Linux, but PC-to-console and PlayStation-to-Xbox co-op are not supported. Mobile has an important exception: experimental multiplayer can connect a phone or tablet to a PC-hosted farm. (Multiplayer reference, official mobile guide)
Check the combination of game editions before troubleshooting your connection. Steam versus GOG, Android versus Apple Arcade, and a Switch 2 GameShare session are different cases.
Which Stardew Valley platforms can play together?
Use this table to check the two versions you intend to connect. It describes the standard game, without compatibility mods.
| Players’ platforms or editions | Can they play together? |
|---|---|
| Windows, macOS and Linux | Yes, across the desktop versions |
| Steam and GOG on PC | Yes, including through an invite code |
| PC and PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch | No standard crossplay |
| PlayStation and Xbox | No standard crossplay |
| Nintendo Switch and PlayStation or Xbox | No standard crossplay |
| Regular Android/iOS edition and a PC host | Yes, through experimental mobile multiplayer |
| Stardew Valley+ on Apple Arcade | The experimental multiplayer feature is unavailable |
| Nintendo Switch 2 sharing to a nearby Switch | Supported through GameShare; see the separate section below |
| PS Vita | Multiplayer is unavailable |
The multiplayer reference distinguishes desktop compatibility from console crossplay. Matching version numbers is necessary for compatible multiplayer sessions; it does not make an unsupported platform combination work.
How do Steam and GOG players join the same farm?
For Steam–GOG sessions, ask the host for an invite code. Choose one farm owner before you begin.
- Open Steam or GOG Galaxy and sign in before launching the game. The official troubleshooting guide identifies launching outside the client as a possible reason for missing invite-code options.
- Have the host open the farm through Co-op → Host.
- Make sure there is a cabin for each guest.
- In the host’s multiplayer options, find Show Invite Code and send the code privately to the other players.
- Guests open Co-op → Join → Enter Invite Code.
You can add friends to an existing single-player farm. Robin can build a cabin immediately for 100g, with no building materials. Cabins selected while creating a new co-op farm are free.
For example, a host and three guests need three cabins. The host lives in the farmhouse, so do not count the host as an extra cabin occupant. Decide who should host before investing time in the shared farm.
Can Android or iPhone players join a PC farm?
Yes. Use the developer’s experimental mobile instructions for the regular Android/iOS edition:
- Back up an important save and check that everyone has the same game version.
- On the mobile title screen, tap the logo’s leaves: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right.
- Tap ?, then close that menu to reveal Co-op.
- Choose Join and enter the PC host’s IP address.
Start on the same Wi-Fi network; mobile has no farm discovery. On iOS, allow local-network access and retry if the first connection fails. Keep the experimental status in mind when planning a long-running farm.
Can Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 players play together?
There is a confirmed GameShare route for nearby players. Nintendo lists Stardew Valley: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition as supporting GameShare, and a Switch 2 can share compatible games locally with an original Switch or another Switch 2. (Stardew Valley’s Nintendo listing, Nintendo’s GameShare explanation)
The connection method matters:
| GameShare situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Friends are nearby | A Switch 2 hosts; an original Switch or Switch 2 can receive |
| Friends are in different locations | GameShare over GameChat requires Switch 2 systems; an original Switch cannot receive this online session |
This is a sharing feature for a supported Nintendo game, not evidence of PC or PlayStation crossplay. It also should not be confused with connecting two independently running editions through their normal co-op menus.
Before buying specifically for an original Switch–Switch 2 group, establish whether you intend to use local GameShare or separately owned copies. The GameShare support confirmed here answers the first case; it does not establish every native cross-generation pairing.
Why is the invite code or farm missing?
For a compatible platform pair, check the host’s session and client before changing network settings. The official multiplayer troubleshooting guide gives these starting points:
| Symptom | First check |
|---|---|
| The host’s multiplayer options are absent | Return to the title screen and load the save through Co-op |
| A guest cannot join | Confirm an available cabin and matching game versions |
| Invite-code controls are missing on desktop | Keep Steam or GOG Galaxy open and signed in |
| A PC farm is not accepting connections | Check its Server Mode; use Online for an online session |
| The setup is correct but connection still fails | Restart the game and devices, then check game-specific firewall permissions |
The Switch does not have the same Server Mode option. For console connection failures, use the console’s network test and the relevant platform support instructions.
If your pair is unsupported in the compatibility table, a router change will not solve it. Avoid repeatedly rebuilding the farm or purchasing additional copies until the edition mismatch is resolved.
Is cross-save the same as crossplay?
No. Crossplay connects players in one session; transferring a save moves farm progress between installations.
The save-file documentation describes manual transfers between PC and mobile. The receiving game must support the save’s version: an older build cannot load a save created by a newer one. Back up the complete save folder before moving files.
This is not an automatic, universal account-sync service. If your goal is simply to continue your own farm on another device, check the transfer instructions for that source and destination. If your goal is to play with a friend at the same time, use the multiplayer compatibility rules instead.
Who owns a multiplayer farm’s progress?
The farm save is stored by the host. Choose someone whose availability suits the group: guests need the host’s farm open to join. Players have individual skills and relationships, and tools are upgraded separately. (Multiplayer reference)
Plan tool upgrade costs around the tools your group actually needs. For friendship progress, each player can use the Stardew Valley gifts guide for their own relationships.
Before the first session, agree on three things: the compatible editions everyone will launch, who will host, and how many guest cabins the farm needs. Those decisions prevent the most common setup confusion before anyone starts a new save.
