DayZ has been around for over a decade, and it’s still one of the most exciting survival games available.
Players drop into a massive open world filled with zombies, scarce resources, and other survivors who can be friend one moment and foe the next. With so many people playing it on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, the question always remains: will DayZ be cross-platform in 2025?
The short answer is no, but the story gets more complicated. In this guide, we’ll explain which platforms DayZ is available on, how cross-generation works, why the game doesn’t support cross-play, and whether that might change in the future.
We’ll also take a look at other survival games that allow cross-platform play, so you’ll know your options if that feature is important to you.
What Does Cross-Platform Gaming Mean?
Before jumping into DayZ, let’s clear up what “cross-platform” actually means. Many players use terms like cross-play, cross-save, and cross-generation interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
- Cross-Play: When players on different platforms can play together. For example, someone on Xbox teaming up with a friend on PC.
- Cross-Generation Play: When older and newer versions of the same console family can connect. For example, PS4 players joining PS5 matches.
- Cross-Save (or Cross-Progression): When your saved progress carries over if you switch platforms. For example, starting on Xbox and continuing your same character on PC.
Many modern multiplayer games include these features, but not all of them. That’s where the confusion around DayZ begins.
DayZ Game Overview
DayZ started life as a mod for ARMA 2, created by Dean Hall, before being developed into a full game by Bohemia Interactive. It officially launched as a standalone in December 2013 and has kept a steady, dedicated fanbase ever since.
Gameplay Style
The premise is simple: survive as long as you can. Players must scavenge for food, water, weapons, and medicine while avoiding zombies and hostile players. Unlike many survival games, every encounter in DayZ carries real weight—you might make an ally or lose everything in a single moment.
Health, stamina, and immunity all need constant management. Add to that the unpredictability of other players, and you get a survival game that is both thrilling and brutally unforgiving.
Platforms Available
As of 2025, DayZ is officially available on:
- PC (Windows)
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
It is not available on:
- Nintendo Switch
- macOS
- Mobile (Android or iOS)
The game’s presence across multiple major systems is what makes the cross-platform question so important. Players naturally expect to be able to connect across these platforms, but the reality is more restrictive.different.
Is DayZ Cross-Platform in 2025?
The simple answer is no, DayZ does not support cross-platform play in 2025. Players on PC cannot join matches with friends on Xbox or PlayStation, and console players are also restricted to their own systems.
The only area where DayZ allows some flexibility is cross-generation support. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users can play together, and Xbox One owners can team up with Xbox Series X|S players. This means you can still play with friends if you are within the same console family, but full cross-play across different platforms is not available.
DayZ Cross-Platform Compatibility (2025)
| Platform Combination | Cross-Play Support |
|---|---|
| PC with Xbox | ❌ Not Supported |
| PC with PlayStation | ❌ Not Supported |
| Xbox with PlayStation | ❌ Not Supported |
| PS4 with PS5 (Cross-Gen) | ✅ Supported |
| Xbox One with Xbox Series X | S (Cross-Gen) |
| PC with Mobile | ❌ Not Available |
| PC with Nintendo Switch | ❌ Not Available |
So if you want to play DayZ with friends, you will need to be on the same type of device, unless you are using different generations of the same console brand.
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
PC and Xbox
There’s no option for PC players to connect with Xbox users. Even though both platforms run the same version of DayZ, they exist on separate servers.
Also read: Top 10 Best PC Games to Play
PC and PlayStation
The situation is the same here. PC and PlayStation users cannot play together, regardless of whether you’re on PS4 or PS5.
Xbox and PlayStation
Xbox and PlayStation players are also isolated. The servers for each console family are separate, so you can’t team up across them.
PS4 and PS5 (Cross-Generation)
This is one area where DayZ does offer flexibility. If you’re still on PS4 and your friends have moved to PS5, you can join the same servers without any trouble.
Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (Cross-Generation)
The same support exists on the Xbox side. Owners of Xbox One can continue playing with friends who have upgraded to Series X|S.
PC and Mobile
DayZ isn’t available on mobile, so there’s no way for PC and mobile players to connect.
PC and Nintendo Switch
Since the game hasn’t been released on Switch, PC and Switch compatibility is also not an option.
Why DayZ Doesn’t Support Cross-Play
DayZ is available on several platforms, but it still does not let players connect across them. This is mainly because of technical and development challenges.
1. Different Game Systems
PC, Xbox, and PlayStation run on very different networks and system architectures. Linking them together requires additional engineering that DayZ was never designed for in the beginning.
2. Server Limitations
DayZ relies heavily on community and private servers. Cross-play would need a shared server environment that works across all platforms, and this is much harder to manage with DayZ’s server structure.
3. Gameplay Balance
On PC, players can use mouse and keyboard, higher frame rates, and even mods. This creates an advantage over console users. Keeping the platforms separate helps maintain fairness in gameplay.
4. Development Priorities
Bohemia Interactive is a mid-sized studio. Their focus has been on fixing bugs, improving performance, and adding content rather than building a complex cross-play system. Cross-platform support would require major resources and ongoing maintenance.
Will DayZ Get Cross-Platform in the Future?
As of 2025, Bohemia Interactive has not made any official announcements about cross-platform support. Updates over the years have improved performance and stability, but cross-play has never been mentioned in patch notes and developer communications.
Players keep requesting for it in forums and community discussions. Cross-play has become commonplace in games like Rust, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Back 4 Blood, which is why many still hope DayZ will do the same.
Realistically, we can expect continued cross-generation support at most. Unless the developers release a major update or a new version of the game, full cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation seems unlikely in the near future.
Cross-Save and Cross-Generation Support
Cross-Save Support
DayZ does not support cross-save or cross-progression. This means if you start playing on one platform, such as Xbox, your progress will stay on that system only. You cannot transfer your character, items, or saved data to PlayStation or PC.
For example, if you move from PS4 to PC, you will need to start fresh with a new character and no previous progress. This limitation is another reason why players continue to ask the developers for broader support across platforms.
Cross-Generation Support
While DayZ doesn’t have cross-save, it does include cross-generation play within the same console family.
- PlayStation: PS4 and PS5 players can join the same servers and play together.
- Xbox: Xbox One players can connect with Xbox Series X|S users without any issues.
This means you can upgrade your console without losing the ability to play with friends who still own the older version.
Games Like DayZ That Support Cross-Play
If cross-play is important to you, there are several survival games similar to DayZ that already allow players on different platforms to connect. Here are a few popular options:
1. Rust
Rust is another hardcore survival game where players must gather resources, build shelters, and defend themselves from enemies. Unlike DayZ, Rust supports cross-play between Xbox and PlayStation, although PC players are kept separate to maintain balance.
2. Ark: Survival Evolved
In Ark, players tame dinosaurs, build bases, and survive against both nature and other players. Ark offers cross-play between Xbox and Windows 10 versions, giving players more flexibility than DayZ currently does.
3. Back 4 Blood
This zombie co-op shooter allows full cross-play across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. If your main interest is teaming up with friends to fight zombies regardless of platform, this game delivers where DayZ falls short.
4. Minecraft
While not a direct competitor in style, Minecraft is one of the best-known survival games that supports full cross-platform play. Players on PC, console, and mobile can all join the same worlds.
5. Fortnite
Although it is more of a battle royale than a pure survival game, Fortnite has become a benchmark for cross-play. It works seamlessly across PC, consoles, and even mobile, showing what’s possible when developers prioritize platform connectivity.
These games prove that cross-play is achievable in survival and multiplayer genres. Unfortunately, DayZ still hasn’t implemented the feature, which puts it behind many of its competitors in terms of accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. DayZ does not support cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Only cross-generation play is available within the same console family.
No. DayZ does not include cross-save. Progress is locked to the platform where you started.
Yes. PS4 and PS5 players can play together, as can Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users.
No. The game is online-only and does not have a split-screen mode.
There has been no confirmation from Bohemia Interactive. While players continue to request it, the developers have not shared any roadmap for cross-play.
No. The game is only available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Yes. The game supports private and community servers, but they are limited to the platform they are hosted on.
Cross-play would let friends on different platforms play together, making the game more accessible. Since other survival games have it, DayZ players feel left behind.
Final Words
DayZ remains one of the toughest and most rewarding survival games on the market, but even in 2025 it doesn’t support cross-platform play. Barring cross-generation support for PlayStation and Xbox users, players are limited to their respective platform ecosystems.
While fans have been hoping that Bohemia Interactive will incorporate cross-play or cross-saves, no such plans have been confirmed. If cross-platform play is an issue for you, you might want to consider alternatives like Rust, Ark, or Back 4 Blood.
For those who stick with DayZ, the lack of cross-play doesn’t diminish its brutal and immersive gameplay. Surviving in Chernarus is still one of the most awesome gaming experiences available, even if you can only do it with friends on the same platform.
