The Outlast Trials Crossplay Guide: How to Play with Friends

Surviving the nightmarish experiments of the Murkoff facility is a harrowing task, but you don't have to face the horrors alone. With The Outlast Trials crossplay feature now fully integrated, players can finally unite across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox to endure the trials together.

Understanding how to bridge the gap between different gaming ecosystems is essential for a seamless co-op experience. Whether you are a veteran of the Red Barrels horror franchise or a newcomer looking to dive into the chaos, this guide will help you master the social systems and connectivity settings required to play with friends anywhere.

Understanding The Outlast Trials Crossplay System

Since the official 1.0 release, Red Barrels has transformed the game into a truly cross-platform experience. The Outlast Trials crossplay functionality allows users on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X/S/One to join the same lobbies. This is a massive shift from the early access phase, which was previously restricted to PC-only environments.

Why does this matter? The game’s core loop relies heavily on teamwork, resource management, and cooperative stealth. Having a larger, unified player base ensures that finding a group—or coordinating with friends on different hardware—is faster and more reliable than ever before.

Compatibility Overview

To help you understand the platform landscape, we have compiled a compatibility chart based on current community reports and developer updates:

How to Enable Crossplay Settings

Before you attempt to join a lobby with friends on other platforms, you must ensure your network settings are correctly configured. By default, most modern games enable this feature, but it is wise to verify it manually to avoid connectivity issues.

Follow these steps to manage your network settings:

1. Open the main menu and navigate to the Settings tab.
2. Select the Network sub-menu.
3. Locate the Crossplay toggle under the General section.
4. Ensure it is set to Enabled.
5. Click Apply to save your changes.

Tip

Why toggle it off? While keeping crossplay enabled is recommended for matchmaking, some players prefer to disable it if they experience latency issues or prefer to play exclusively with users on the same hardware. If you do this, remember that you will be unable to join or host cross-platform sessions.

Step-by-Step: Adding Friends Across Platforms

The most common hurdle players face is figuring out how to invite someone who isn't on their specific platform’s native friend list. Because Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation use different backend systems, The Outlast Trials utilizes an internal "Friend Code" system to bypass these barriers.

The Friend Code Process

According to community reports, the process is centralized within the game’s social menu:

1. Access the Terminal: Head to the terminal in your lobby.
2. Open Social Menu: Look for the "Plus" icon or the social tab menu (usually mapped to the 'Tab' key on PC, or the dedicated menu button on controllers).
3. Add Friend: Select the "Add Friend" option at the bottom of the screen.
4. Exchange Codes: Every player has a unique alphanumeric code. Enter your friend's code exactly as provided, including the slash mark.
5. Accept Request: Once the profile is found, send the request. Your friend will receive a notification in their social tab to accept, deny, or block the request.

Troubleshooting Common Connection Issues

If you or your friends are having trouble connecting, consider these factors:

• Slash Marks: Ensure the code is entered with the required slash. Many players report that omitting this character leads to a "Profile Not Found" error.
• Update Version: Ensure all participants have updated to the latest version of the game. Mismatched versions often prevent lobby joining.
• Social Tab Visibility: If you cannot see the "Add Friend" button, ensure you have clicked on one of the empty player silhouettes in the lobby invite screen first.

Optimizing Your Cooperative Strategy

Once you have successfully navigated The Outlast Trials crossplay setup, you’ll want to focus on gameplay. Communication is the backbone of survival in the Murkoff facility. Since you are playing across different platforms, you might be using different audio setups.

Recommended Communication Methods

To maximize your chances of getting an A+ rating in the Genesis trials, coordinate your loadouts. If one player brings a "Stun" rig, another should consider a "Heal" or "Blind" rig to ensure the team has defensive coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does The Outlast Trials support cross-progression? While the game features crossplay, always check your specific platform account status. Generally, progression is tied to your platform account, so moving between different consoles may not carry over your unlocked cosmetics or trial progress.

Can I play with random players from other platforms? Yes. By using the "Group Finder" feature located in the bottom right corner of the lobby screen, the game will automatically match you with other players, regardless of their platform, as long as your crossplay setting is enabled.

Is The Outlast Trials crossplay enabled by default? In most cases, yes. However, if you find yourself unable to see friends or join lobbies, double-check the Network settings menu to ensure the toggle hasn't been accidentally disabled.

Does this game require an internet connection? Yes, because the game relies on its server-side matchmaking and social systems to facilitate The Outlast Trials crossplay, a stable internet connection is mandatory for both solo and cooperative play.