Is The Quarry Crossplay? What You Need to Know
If you are thinking about playing The Quarry with friends, one question can become surprisingly important before anyone buys the game: is The Quarry crossplay? The answer is no, and there is an additional limitation that can easily catch players out: online multiplayer is restricted not only by platform but also by console generation.
That means a friend playing on PlayStation cannot join someone playing on Xbox or PC. Even within the same console family, the generation matters for online multiplayer. A PS4 player and a PS5 player cannot simply join the same online session when they are using their respective native versions. The same basic restriction applies to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. 2K’s current support information confirms that The Quarry supports multiplayer only when players are on the same platform, while PlayStation and Xbox documentation specify same-generation multiplayer.
This guide explains exactly what that means, which combinations work, how The Quarry multiplayer actually functions, and what to check before you and your friends decide which version to play.
Is The Quarry crossplay?
No. The Quarry does not support crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
If you own the game on PC, you cannot invite a friend playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S into your online multiplayer session. Likewise, PlayStation and Xbox players cannot join each other’s online games.
The official information from 2K is particularly important because The Quarry is available across several platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Having the game on all those platforms does not mean that those platforms can play together.
There is also no cross-platform save system. In other words, buying or owning the game on multiple platforms does not allow your save progress to move freely between them.
Quick answer by platform
| Player 1 | Player 2 | Online multiplayer? |
|---|---|---|
| PC | PC | Yes |
| PS4 | PS4 | Yes |
| PS5 | PS5 | Yes |
| Xbox One | Xbox One | Yes |
| Xbox Series X/S | Xbox Series X/S | Yes |
| PC | PlayStation | No |
| PC | Xbox | No |
| PlayStation | Xbox | No |
| PS4 | PS5 native version | No |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S native version | No |
The important word in the table is native. There is a special backwards-compatibility situation on newer consoles that can make things less straightforward.
What platforms does The Quarry support?
The Quarry was released for:
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X|S
- Windows PC
Supermassive Games lists all five platforms for the game.
The PC version is available through Steam, while console versions are available for PlayStation and Xbox. Steam lists The Quarry as a single-player game with shared/split-screen co-op features, while its online multiplayer allows invited friends to participate in the story.
This broad platform availability is one reason the crossplay question comes up so often. Many modern games allow players on different systems to connect, so it is natural to assume The Quarry does the same.
It doesn’t.
How does The Quarry multiplayer work?
The online multiplayer in The Quarry is somewhat different from traditional co-op games.
Instead of eight people each running around independently and controlling separate characters at the same time, the online mode is built around watching the story and voting on important decisions.
The host plays through the story while invited players participate by watching and voting on key choices. Up to seven friends can join the host, allowing as many as eight people to participate online. PlayStation’s official listing confirms support for up to eight online players, while 2K describes the online mode as allowing the host and up to seven friends to experience the story together.
That distinction matters.
If you expect something similar to a conventional multiplayer horror game where everyone controls a character simultaneously, The Quarry may feel very different.
Instead, think of it as a group decision-making horror movie that you control.
One person effectively drives the game forward, while everyone else gets involved in the choices. That makes the mode particularly suitable for groups that enjoy arguing about what a character should do next.
Does The Quarry have cross-generation multiplayer?
This is where things get confusing.
The Quarry does not normally support online multiplayer between different console generations.
For example:
- PS4 native version + PS5 native version: No
- Xbox One native version + Xbox Series X|S native version: No
2K specifically states that multiplayer functionality works across the same generation. Its crossplay support article also explains that a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S running the next-generation version cannot simply join friends using the corresponding previous-generation version.
So if your friend says, “We’re both playing on Xbox, so why can’t I join?” the problem may not be the console brand. It may be the version of the game being used.
The backwards-compatibility exception
There is an important wrinkle.
A PS5 can play the PS4 version of The Quarry through backwards compatibility, and an Xbox Series X|S can play the Xbox One version through backwards compatibility. 2K explains that players using the current-generation version as a backwards-compatible current-gen game can play with friends using that same older-generation version.
This creates a practical distinction:
PS5 running the PS4 version + PS4 player = potentially compatible
PS5 native PS5 version + PS4 native version = not compatible
The same concept applies to Xbox.
This is one of the easiest details to miss when organizing a multiplayer session.
Can PC players play The Quarry with console players?
No.
A PC player cannot join a PlayStation or Xbox player in The Quarry online multiplayer.
For example, imagine four friends:
- Friend A — Steam PC
- Friend B — PS5
- Friend C — Xbox Series X
- Friend D — PS5
Friends B and D can play together because they are on the same PlayStation generation. Friend A cannot join them, and Friend C cannot join them.
This restriction is not something that can normally be solved by changing an in-game crossplay setting. The Quarry was designed with same-platform multiplayer rather than full cross-platform multiplayer. 2K’s official FAQ explicitly describes Wolf Pack multiplayer as requiring players to be on the same platform.
What is Wolf Pack mode?
Wolf Pack is the online multiplayer experience in The Quarry.
The basic idea is simple: one person hosts the game, other players join, and the group watches the story unfold while voting on important decisions.
This makes the mode particularly interesting for narrative-focused groups.
For example, imagine your group reaches a decision where a character can investigate a suspicious noise or stay somewhere safer. Instead of one person making the decision alone, everyone gets a say.
That creates a different kind of multiplayer tension.
The person who voted to investigate may later be blamed if the character ends up in serious trouble.
And because The Quarry is built around branching decisions and character survival, those arguments can become part of the fun.
Can eight people play The Quarry together?
Yes, up to eight players can participate in online multiplayer, with one host and up to seven invited friends.
However, remember that all players need to meet the game’s platform and generation requirements.
So eight friends can potentially play together if they are all using compatible versions.
For example:
Eight PS5 players using the PS5 version: Yes.
Four PS5 players and four Xbox Series X players: No.
Six PC players and two PS5 players: No.
Eight Xbox Series X|S players: Yes.
The number of players is therefore not the main limitation. Platform compatibility is.
What about couch co-op?
If your friends are physically in the same location, The Quarry offers another option: local or couch co-op.
Instead of using online multiplayer, players can share the same system and take control of different counselors.
The Xbox listing describes local co-op for 2–8 players, while 2K also confirms couch co-op as one of the game’s multiplayer options.
This can actually be a better choice for certain groups.
For example, if six friends are sitting together for a horror-game night, you don’t need to worry about crossplay at all. You can simply assign characters and pass the controller around.
Online multiplayer vs couch co-op
Online multiplayer
- Up to eight participants
- Friends can join remotely
- Players watch and vote on decisions
- Platform restrictions apply
- Same-generation limitations apply
Couch co-op
- Players share one gaming setup
- Different players can control different counselors
- No crossplay issue because everyone is using the same system
- Great for parties or groups sitting together
The two modes are worth distinguishing because “multiplayer” does not necessarily mean the same thing in The Quarry as it does in an action-focused co-op game.
A practical way to avoid multiplayer problems
If you are planning a The Quarry session with friends, don’t just ask, “What console do you have?”
Ask these three questions:
- Which platform are you using?
- Which generation/version of the game are you running?
- Are you using the native version or a backwards-compatible version?
This takes less than a minute and can prevent a frustrating situation where everyone discovers the incompatibility after purchasing the game.
For example, saying “I have a PS5” isn’t quite enough.
You need to know whether you are playing the PS5 version or the PS4 version on PS5.
That small distinction can determine whether another player can join.
Common mistakes players make
Assuming the same console brand means cross-generation support
A PS4 and PS5 are both PlayStation consoles, but their native versions of The Quarry don’t provide normal cross-generation online multiplayer.
The same principle applies to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Assuming PC and console multiplayer works
The game being available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox does not mean that those communities share the same multiplayer network.
PC players need compatible PC players for online multiplayer.
Buying the wrong version
This is probably the most practical mistake to avoid.
If your friends are all playing the PS4 version, buying the PS5 version simply because you own a PS5 can create compatibility problems.
Check what version your group is using before purchasing or installing the game.
Confusing crossplay with backwards compatibility
These are different features.
Crossplay means players on different platforms can play together.
Backwards compatibility means a newer console can run an older console’s game.
The Quarry supports backwards-compatible play in certain circumstances, but that does not turn the game into a crossplay title.
Does The Quarry have cross-progression?
No. The Quarry does not support cross-platform saves or cross-generation save progression.
This is an important consideration if you own the game on more than one system.
For example, completing several chapters on PlayStation does not mean you can move that story progress to the PC version and continue there.
This is separate from multiplayer compatibility, but it comes up frequently when people compare versions.
A useful way to think about The Quarry’s multiplayer
One of the less obvious things about The Quarry is that its multiplayer limitations make more sense when you consider what the game is trying to accomplish.
This isn’t primarily a competitive multiplayer game.
It is a branching cinematic horror story.
The online mode is designed around a shared narrative experience rather than players occupying completely independent game worlds. The host moves the story forward while the group influences important choices.
That makes platform restrictions particularly noticeable because the game doesn’t offer the kind of cross-platform competitive infrastructure found in many large multiplayer titles.
A second useful insight is that the quality of your multiplayer experience depends heavily on the group itself. Because everyone is voting on decisions rather than constantly controlling a character, a group that enjoys discussion and disagreement may have a better time than a group expecting fast-paced co-op action.
Is The Quarry worth playing with friends?
If your group enjoys interactive horror stories, character-driven decisions and watching consequences unfold, The Quarry can work very well as a group experience.
It is especially good for people who enjoy questions such as:
- Should we trust this character?
- Should we investigate that sound?
- Should we risk helping someone?
- Who should make the next decision?
- Can we keep everyone alive?
The game is less suitable if your main goal is a traditional cooperative horror experience where every player independently controls a character throughout the entire game.
The multiplayer design is fundamentally narrative-focused.
FAQ
Is The Quarry crossplay between PC and Xbox?
No. The Quarry does not support online crossplay between PC and Xbox. PC players need to play with compatible PC players, while Xbox players need to stay within the supported Xbox platform and generation.
Can PS4 and PS5 play The Quarry together online?
Not when one player is using the native PS5 version and the other is using the PS4 version. However, a PS5 can run the PS4 version through backwards compatibility, which can allow compatibility with PS4 players under the game’s same-generation rules.
Can Xbox One and Xbox Series X play The Quarry together?
The native Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions do not support cross-generation multiplayer. A newer Xbox can, however, run the Xbox One version through backwards compatibility, which is a different situation from playing the native Series X|S version.
How many players can play The Quarry online?
Up to eight people can participate in the online multiplayer experience: one host plus up to seven friends. The players must meet the game’s platform and generation compatibility requirements.
Does The Quarry have local co-op?
Yes. The Quarry includes couch co-op, allowing multiple people to play together on the same system. This is a useful alternative when your friends are physically together and removes the need to worry about cross-platform online compatibility.
Does The Quarry support cross-platform saves?
No. The game does not support cross-platform or cross-generation save progression. Your progress on one platform should not be assumed to carry over to another platform.
Conclusion
So, is The Quarry crossplay? No. The game does not offer full cross-platform multiplayer between PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and its online multiplayer is also limited by console generation.
The safest approach is to check your friends’ exact platform and game version before you start. Same-platform, same-generation multiplayer is the straightforward option, while backwards compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S creates a useful but easily misunderstood exception.
If your group owns compatible versions, The Quarry can be a particularly entertaining multiplayer horror experience because everyone gets to influence the story. And if crossplay is the feature you were hoping for, it is better to know the limitation before buying the game than discover it when everyone is ready to play.

