There is one important limitation, though: Borderlands 2 does not support full cross-platform play between PC and consoles. A PC player cannot join someone on Xbox or PlayStation, and Xbox and PlayStation players cannot play together either.
There is some limited compatibility between PC storefronts, so the answer is not quite as simple as a flat “no.” Here is what actually works.
TL;DR – Is Borderlands 2 cross-platform?
- PC + Xbox: No
- PC + PlayStation: No
- Xbox + PlayStation: No
- Steam + Epic Games Store on Windows: Yes
- Windows + native macOS version: No
Is Borderlands 2 cross-platform?
No, Borderlands 2 does not have full cross-platform multiplayer.
You cannot play together across the major platform families. That means a PC player cannot join a friend on Xbox or PlayStation, and Xbox and PlayStation players cannot enter the same Borderlands 2 session.
So, if your group wants to clear Pandora together, everyone needs to be on compatible versions of the game.
Can Steam and Epic Games Store players play together?
Yes. Borderlands 2 supports multiplayer between the Windows versions on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
This is the closest Borderlands 2 gets to cross-platform play. Steam and Epic are different storefronts, but both players are still using the Windows PC version of the game.
Gearbox’s SHiFT services help support online features and player connections, but SHiFT does not turn Borderlands 2 into a fully cross-platform game. PC players still cannot use it to join Xbox or PlayStation users.
Can Windows and Mac players play Borderlands 2 together?
Not with the current native macOS version.
Older information about Borderlands 2 can be misleading here. Windows and Mac players could previously play together, but the native macOS version eventually fell out of sync with the updated Windows release.
As a result, the current native Mac build is not multiplayer-compatible with the current Windows version.
Linux and Steam Deck users may have better results running the Windows version through Proton rather than relying on an older native Linux build. That still does not add console crossplay.
How to enable crossplay in Borderlands 2
There is no setting that enables crossplay between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation because Borderlands 2 simply does not support those combinations.
If you are playing on Windows and want to connect between Steam and Epic Games Store, make sure both players are running updated versions of the game and have access to SHiFT services.
You can create or connect a SHiFT account from Borderlands 2 through the Extras menu. From there, you can use the game’s online multiplayer features normally.
For console players, the rule is straightforward: play with people using a compatible version within the same console ecosystem.
Borderlands 2 offers on G2A.COM
If your co-op group needs matching PC copies, there are several Borderlands options available on G2A Marketplace.
Loot a better deal with G2A Plus
G2A Plus can unlock member prices and additional discounts on marketplace offers. Members can also collect Plus Points, access additional rewards, and get priority post-purchase assistance.
Borderlands 2 crossplay FAQ
Can Borderlands 2 PC players play with Xbox players?
No. Borderlands 2 does not support multiplayer between PC and Xbox.
Can Borderlands 2 PC players play with PlayStation players?
No. PC and PlayStation versions cannot join the same Borderlands 2 multiplayer session.
Can Steam and Epic players play Borderlands 2 together?
Yes. The Windows PC versions support multiplayer between Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Does Borderlands 2 have cross-progression?
Not in the modern sense of automatically syncing your character across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and other platforms. You should not expect one live save to follow you freely between platforms.
Does SHiFT enable PC-to-console crossplay in Borderlands 2?
No. SHiFT supports Gearbox online features, but it does not add full cross-platform multiplayer to Borderlands 2.
Same Pandora, same platform
Borderlands 2 is a fantastic co-op game, but it comes from an era before universal crossplay became a common expectation.
Steam and Epic Games Store players on Windows can play together, but PC, Xbox, and PlayStation remain separated. Native macOS users are also currently separated from the up-to-date Windows build.
So before convincing three friends to become Vault Hunters with you, check where everyone plans to play. It is considerably easier than discovering the problem after everybody has already picked a character.