Crossplay and Community Servers

Crossplay is the number-one topic on Palworld servers. This guide explains how to join your YorkHost server from PS5, Xbox and Game Pass, why direct-IP connection is impossible on consoles, and how to configure your server so it appears in the Community Servers list.

Understanding Palworld crossplay

Palworld offers two very different connection methods depending on the platform:

Platform	Direct-IP connection	Community Servers list
Steam (PC)	Yes	Yes
Xbox / PC Game Pass	No	Yes (mandatory)
PlayStation 5	No	Yes (mandatory)

Key point

PS5, Xbox and Game Pass players CANNOT connect by IP address. They must use the Community Servers list built into the game. If your server does not appear in that list, those players will never be able to join it.

Steam players, on the other hand, can join both ways: by direct IP (the "Join via IP" menu) or through the community list.

Joining from PS5, Xbox or Game Pass

1. Launch Palworld
2. Click Join Multiplayer (Community)
3. In the search bar, type the exact name of your server (ServerName)
4. Select your server from the list
5. Enter the password if the server requires one
6. Click Join

tip

The community list contains thousands of servers. Always use the search by name rather than scrolling through the list. Pick a unique, easy-to-type ServerName.

Configuring the server for crossplay

Launch parameters

For a server to appear in the community list and accept console crossplay, two launch parameters are decisive:

Parameter	Role
-publiclobby	Publishes the server in the Community Servers list (makes it visible in-game)
-EpicApp=PalServer	Enables the Epic Online Services (EOS) backend, essential for console crossplay

At YorkHost, these parameters are already present in the startup configuration of crossplay Palworld servers. You can check them from the Game Panel:

1. Log in to your Game Panel:
   • game.yorkhost.fr
2. Select your Palworld server
3. Go to the Startup tab
4. Confirm the command line contains -publiclobby and -EpicApp=PalServer

The CrossplayPlatforms parameter in the ini

The PalWorldSettings.ini file controls which platforms are allowed to join the server, via the CrossplayPlatforms parameter.

To allow all platforms:

CrossplayPlatforms=(Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac)

• This parameter goes inside the OptionSettings=(...) line of PalWorldSettings.ini
• Remove a platform from the list to block it (for example CrossplayPlatforms=(Steam) for a Steam-only server)
• After editing, restart the server

info

For the exact structure of PalWorldSettings.ini and the single-line OptionSettings=(...) format, see Edit world settings.

Port 27015 is NOT required

This is a very common confusion. Port 27015/UDP is the Steam Query port. It only serves to display the server in the external Steam server browser.

Good to know

Visibility in the in-game Community Servers list does not depend on port 27015. It relies entirely on the Epic Online Services (EOS) backend, enabled by -EpicApp=PalServer. So you have nothing to open manually for your server to appear in the community list — it's handled automatically at YorkHost.

The only port actually used by players to connect and play is the game port (default 8211/UDP), assigned automatically to your server.

Crossplay and mods

One question comes up constantly: can console/Game Pass players use mods?

• Client mods (visuals, UI) must be installed on the player's machine: impossible on console and Game Pass, which are closed environments.
• Server-side mods (server .pak files, settings) apply to all players, consoles included, with nothing to install on their part.
• A server with mandatory client mods will effectively exclude console players.

info

To install mods on the server, see Install PAK mods and UE4SS mods.

My server doesn't appear in the list

If your server can't be found in the community list, see the dedicated page: My server doesn't appear in the community list.