Palworld crossplay lets players on different platforms share a world, but a Steam dedicated server, which is what GuavaHost runs, is built around Steam PC players, so it is worth knowing where Xbox and Game Pass players fit before you buy.
What GuavaHost runs
Your GuavaHost Palworld server is a Steam dedicated server. It is the standard, always-online kind of server that runs 24/7 whether or not you are playing, and it is the version the game's dedicated server tools are built for. This is the right choice for the vast majority of groups.
Steam PC players
Anyone who owns Palworld on Steam can join directly. They use Join Multiplayer Game (Dedicated Server), open Community Servers, and connect with your IP:8211 address. This path is fully supported and always works. If your whole group is on Steam, you are done.
Xbox and Game Pass (Microsoft Store) players
This is where it gets nuanced, so check the current Palworld patch notes for the latest state rather than assuming. Historically, the key limits have been:
- The Xbox and Microsoft Store or Game Pass versions of Palworld are a separate build from the Steam version.
- For a long time those players could not join Steam dedicated servers at all, and instead played on Xbox-hosted community servers or through co-op invites.
- Co-op invite play, where you invite friends straight into your own session, is capped at a small number of players, far below what a dedicated server supports.
Palworld has been adding crossplay support over time, so the ability for Xbox and Game Pass players to join a Steam dedicated server may have expanded since a given update. Because this changes with patches, confirm it against the newest official notes before you plan a mixed-platform group.
Which version does everyone own?
Two players can both say they have Palworld and still own different builds. Before you buy a server, ask your group where they play:
- All Steam: a GuavaHost dedicated server is a perfect fit, and everyone joins by IP.
- Mixed Steam and Xbox or Game Pass: verify the current crossplay rules first, since the platform, not the host, decides who can join.
- All Xbox or Game Pass: be aware the dedicated server experience is built around Steam, and platform limits may apply.
The safe answer
If your friends are on Steam, order with confidence and connect by IP. If some are on Xbox or Game Pass, take a minute to check the latest Palworld crossplay status so nobody is surprised, and remember the 48-hour money-back guarantee is there if a platform limit turns out to block your setup.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.