There are two separate questions hiding inside is sledding game cross platform: whether you can play together, and whether your progress follows you. They often have different answers.
If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing. Start with the simplest option before touching anything that is hard to reverse.
The short answer
Play together and carry progress across are separate features here, so check both before deciding which version to buy.
How to set it up
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Store-level differences cause more trouble than platform-level ones. The community figured most of this out through repetition, and the pattern has held up well. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing.
Buying on one platform rarely entitles you to the game on another. People often blame the game when the actual cause is a setting they changed weeks ago. Invites sometimes only work in one direction, which looks like a bug and is not.
Progress and purchases across platforms
Nothing below requires mods, paid tools or an account on some sketchy site. Anything marked optional really is optional, so skip it without guilt. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
- Back up your save if the game gives you the option.
- Check the version you are running before following any step-by-step advice.
- Create and link a publisher account on every platform involved.
- Write down what you changed, so you can undo it if the result gets worse.
- Test one change at a time instead of five at once.
- Restart fully after a change rather than trusting a quick reload.
Who can play with whom
There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing. Version mismatches after an update can split the player base for a day or two. Start with the simplest option before touching anything that is hard to reverse. Buying on one platform rarely entitles you to the game on another.
Store-level differences cause more trouble than platform-level ones. Version mismatches after an update can split the player base for a day or two. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Changing several settings at once, then having no idea which one helped.
- Following a guide written for an older version and assuming nothing moved.
- Skipping the preparation step because it looks boring, then repeating the hard part four times.
- Trusting a video thumbnail over the actual patch notes.
Frequently asked questions
Does progress carry over between platforms?
Only where the game offers cross-progression, which is a separate feature from crossplay and less common.
Do I need to buy it twice?
On most platforms, yes. Cross-buy exists but is the exception rather than the rule.
Is there a faster method?
Usually yes, and usually it is riskier. The route above trades a little speed for a much lower chance of having to start over.
If you take one thing away about is sledding game cross platform, make it the preparation step; everything after it becomes much easier.