Is Rust cross-platform? We have the slightly complex answer

By Sam Hill and Lloyd Coombes Updated October 23, 2025

Arguably one of the most popular survival games around, Rust has a reputation for being hard to start and near-impossible to put down once you’ve learned its intricacies. Now that it’s come to console, however, you’ll no doubt be wondering – is Rust cross-platform?

Unlike cross-platform games such as Apex Legends, Borderlands 4 and Stardew Valley, the answer here is more complex than you may think (unsurprisingly, given how much depth there is to Rust), but we’ll do our best to cover whether it is or not, and why, below.

Rust is available on most major gaming platforms, but it isn’t entirely cross-platform. Players on consoles — PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One — are able to play with each other, but PC players are in a completely separate world.

PC and console player pools are separated in a lot of games (usually because PC players have a massive advantage using a keyboard and mouse for many competitive shooters) but it’s a little more complex for Rust. 

The PC and console versions of the game, while the same at the core, are very different content- and performance-wise.

The PC version of Rust gets monthly content updates with new guns, monuments, hundreds of new skins, and other additions while the console version is slow to adopt new items.

For example, the console version of the game added mechanics like horses and helicopters relatively recently — both modes of transportation that have been in the PC version for years. The PC version also allows for modded servers for a true custom Rust experience.

There are still Rust die-hards who play and enjoy the game on console, but the PC version is undoubtedly better and is where you should jump in if you have the choice to pick a platform.