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To play ARC Raiders with friends, each player needs an Embark ID and a supported platform account. The game supports crossplay between Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. From the lobby, add friends through Social using their Embark ID, then invite them from the party control above the play widget. Every friend request and party invitation must be accepted before the connection is complete.
What you need before inviting anyone
Set up these basics before trying to form a squad:
- A supported platform: Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S. Embark’s official Friends & parties guidance lists these platforms for crossplay.
- An Embark ID: Every player needs one to play ARC Raiders. A new player can create one when the game first launches, while an existing player can link an existing ID.
- A platform account: The official game site describes an Embark ID and a third-party platform account as requirements for play.
- Access to the lobby: Friend management and party invitations are performed from the game’s lobby interface.
The exact appearance of menus can change with game updates. The labels below follow Embark’s published instructions, but a future update may move a control or rename it slightly.
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Does ARC Raiders support crossplay?
Yes. The current official Friends & parties article explicitly supports crossplay among Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. That means a player on PC through Steam can join friends on either listed console, and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players can play together.
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Crossplay concerns playing in the same party despite using different platforms. It is separate from cross-progression, which concerns whether your account carries its own progress between platforms. The two features should not be treated as interchangeable.
Platform compatibility at a glance
| Player platform | Can join the listed crossplay group? | Account identity used for social features |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | Yes | Embark ID linked to the platform account |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | Embark ID linked to the platform account |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Embark ID linked to the platform account |
This is a compatibility list, not a promise about every future platform or device. If someone is using a platform outside this list, check the latest Embark Help Center information rather than assuming it can join the same party.
How Embark IDs work
An Embark ID is the account identity used by ARC Raiders for player access and social features. Embark’s account-creation guidance says the ID stores gear, progress, and cosmetics and supports switching among the listed platforms without losing that account progress.
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- Install and launch ARC Raiders on your platform.
- When the game presents the Embark ID prompt, follow the on-screen account-creation flow.
- Finish the setup and continue to the lobby.
If you already have an Embark ID, choose the option to link it instead of creating another account. Using the intended ID matters because your saved gear, progress, and cosmetics are associated with that account.
Why the account matters for a group
Your platform username is not necessarily the identifier another player should search. A Steam name, PlayStation Network name, or Xbox gamertag can be different from the Embark ID used by the game’s Social menu. Exchange the Embark ID shown by each player’s account and copy it carefully. This avoids sending a request to the wrong account or searching for a name that the game cannot find.
Crossplay versus cross-progression
Crossplay lets different supported platforms participate in the same party and round. Cross-progression lets your Embark account retain its own game state when you move between supported platforms. You can therefore play with a friend on another platform without assuming that every platform purchase or every possible account-linking arrangement transfers identically.
Embark’s account materials support the broad progress-and-cosmetics explanation, but account-management guidance also warns about links that are already associated with another Embark ID. Treat account linking as a permanent-account decision, not as a routine way to repair a friend-list problem.
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How to add a friend by Embark ID
The most reliable method for connecting with someone you know is to exchange Embark IDs and send a friend request from the lobby.
- Enter the lobby.
- Select Social in the lower-right corner.
- Open the Friends tab.
- Select Add Friend, located near the upper-right area of the Friends screen in Embark’s instructions.
- Enter the other player’s Embark ID exactly as provided.
- Send the friend request.
- Have the recipient open their pending requests and accept it.
The request does not connect both accounts until the recipient accepts. If the person does not appear in your friend list immediately, confirm that the ID was entered correctly and that the other player completed the acceptance step.
What to exchange with a friend
Ask your friend for the Embark ID shown by their game account, not merely their Steam, PlayStation Network, or Xbox display name. Platform names and Embark IDs are separate account identifiers, so using the wrong name can return no result or identify a different player.
A useful routine is for one player to read the ID aloud while the other compares each character on screen. If the request is sent to the wrong account, cancel or ignore it and repeat the search with the exact Embark ID. Do not create a second Embark ID simply because the first search failed.
How to invite a friend to your party
After the friend request has been accepted, invite the player from the lobby.
- Remain in the lobby and locate the party control above the play widget.
- Select the circle containing a plus sign.
- Choose the friend you want to invite.
- Send the party invitation.
- Have the invited player accept the invitation.
The player joins after accepting. If several friends are available, repeat the invitation process for each person you want in the squad. Embark’s published instructions do not establish a universal party-size limit, so do not rely on an assumed number; use the slots displayed by your current lobby interface.
Friend request versus party invitation
These are two separate actions. A friend request connects the accounts in the Friends list after acceptance. A party invitation asks the player to join the current lobby group and also requires acceptance. A player can accept a friend request and still need to accept a separate party invitation. If someone says, “I accepted it,” confirm which notification they accepted.
How to invite someone from a recent round
You do not have to add every potential teammate as a permanent friend before inviting them. The Social menu includes a Recent section for players you encountered in a previous round.
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- From the lobby, open Social.
- Choose Recent.
- Select the player you want to contact.
- Choose either Invite to Party or the option to send a friend request.
- If you send an invitation, have the player accept it.
Embark’s Friends & parties article specifically says that the direct Invite to Party route does not require adding the recent player as a friend first. Use a friend request instead when you expect to play together again and want the account in your Friends list.
This route is useful when you remember a teammate from a completed round but did not exchange names. The Recent list is still accessed from the lobby Social menu, so return to the lobby before looking for it.
Playing with friends on different platforms
A typical cross-platform session follows this sequence:
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- Each player launches the game on Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S.
- Each player completes Embark ID setup or links the correct existing ID.
- The players exchange Embark IDs if they are not already connected.
- One player sends the request from Social > Friends > Add Friend.
- The other player accepts the request.
- The host opens the party control above the play widget and sends the invitation.
- The invited player accepts and confirms that they appear in the lobby party before the round starts.
The platform difference itself is not a reason to create duplicate Embark IDs. Use the account associated with the progress you intend to keep, especially if you regularly move between PC and console.
Example: Steam and PlayStation 5
The Steam player and PlayStation 5 player each launch the game and reach the lobby. They exchange Embark IDs, send and accept the friend request, and then one player uses the circle-and-plus party control. Once the invitation is accepted, both should verify that they are shown together in the lobby before starting.
Example: Xbox Series X|S and Steam
The steps are the same: platform accounts remain separate, while the Embark IDs provide the game-level identity for adding friends and inviting them. Neither player needs to convert the other’s platform username into an Embark ID.
Account-linking cautions when changing platforms
Linking accounts is different from sending a party invitation and should be handled carefully. Embark’s account-creation information describes platform switching with saved gear, progress, and cosmetics. However, the separate Managing Your Embark ID guidance warns that a third-party game account may already be linked to another Embark ID.
Do not casually unlink every account
The account-management warning says that unlinking all third-party game accounts can permanently delete the Embark ID and its associated progress and cosmetics. Do not unlink accounts merely because a friend is missing from Social, an invitation failed, or you changed platforms.
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- Identify which Embark ID currently owns your progress before changing any link.
- Check whether the Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox account is already associated with a different Embark ID.
- Do not attempt to solve an account conflict by deleting or unlinking every connected platform.
- For a link that is already attached elsewhere, follow the current official Embark account-management support instructions for that exact case.
Because account states differ, a general instruction to merge, unlink, or recreate accounts could cause irreversible loss. The safest choice is to preserve the existing link until official support confirms the appropriate action.
What transfers, and what should not be assumed
Embark describes the account as storing gear, progress, and cosmetics and supports a broad platform-switching explanation. That does not establish that every purchase, entitlement, or unusual linking arrangement behaves identically. Keep the Embark ID that owns the progress you want, and seek account-specific help before changing links.
When a friend request or invitation does not work
Work through the checks below in order. They address the account and social states that Embark’s instructions require without assuming an undocumented setting.
The player cannot be found
- Ask the friend to send their Embark ID exactly as displayed by their account.
- Check capitalization, spelling, and any characters that are easy to confuse.
- Confirm that you are searching from Social > Friends > Add Friend, not from a platform-only friend screen.
- Verify that both accounts have completed Embark ID setup.
- Check that neither player accidentally created or opened a different Embark ID from the one holding their progress.
The request was sent but the friend is absent
- Have the recipient accept the pending request; sending alone does not complete the connection.
- Ask the recipient to check the account that owns their active game progress.
- Return to the Friends tab after acceptance and confirm that the account appears there.
- If the search result looked unfamiliar, stop and verify the Embark ID rather than proceeding with the wrong account.
The party invitation was not accepted
- Make sure the invitation was sent from the lobby’s circle-and-plus party control.
- Confirm that the recipient accepted the party invitation rather than only the earlier friend request.
- Have the invited player return to the lobby before trying again.
- If the player is visible under Recent, try Social > Recent > Invite to Party; this route does not require a prior friend connection.
An account is linked to another Embark ID
Do not unlink all connected platform accounts as an experiment. Embark’s account-management warning says that doing so can permanently delete the Embark ID, progress, and cosmetics. Preserve the current account state and use official account-management support for the specific conflict.
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The menu looks different
Interface labels can move after an update. Start from the lobby and look for the functions named Social, Friends, Recent, Add Friend, and the party control above the play widget. If a label has changed, consult the current Embark Help Center instructions rather than guessing at an unrelated platform menu.
Cost, subscriptions, and equipment questions
The official setup material establishes the need for an Embark ID and a third-party platform account. It does not establish a separate party fee, a required headset, a required controller, or a platform-subscription requirement for cross-platform partying. Do not present any of those as mandatory based on this setup guidance.
You still need access to ARC Raiders on a supported platform, but current store pricing and purchase terms can vary by platform and date. Check the relevant Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox store for the current ownership and account requirements. A store purchase is separate from creating or linking an Embark ID.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Settings and limits the official instructions do not define
The official guidance confirms the supported platforms and the lobby-based social workflow, but it does not establish several details that players often ask about:
- A precise maximum party size.
- The location of a crossplay on/off toggle.
- Whether a particular platform subscription is required for cross-platform partying.
- A voice-chat setup procedure.
- Platform-specific fixes for every failed invitation.
Do not infer those details from another game. Check the current in-game settings and the latest Embark support documentation for your platform and account state. Menu names can also change after updates, so a small interface difference does not necessarily mean crossplay has been removed.
Fast checklist before starting a round
- Everyone is using Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S.
- Everyone has an Embark ID and the intended platform account linked to it.
- The correct Embark ID was used for each friend request.
- Every friend request was accepted.
- The party invitation was sent from the lobby’s circle-and-plus control.
- Every party invitation was accepted before launching the round.
- No one is unlinking accounts to solve a temporary Social-menu problem.
Official guidance and update dates
Embark Studios’ Help Center Friends & parties article, last updated October 27, 2025, supplies the crossplay platform list, friend-request steps, party invitation path, and Recent-player workflow. The Creating an account article, last updated June 16, 2026, covers the Embark ID requirement, first-launch setup, linked accounts, saved gear, progress, cosmetics, and platform switching. Separate Embark ID and account-management guidance explains the account identity and warns about links that are already associated elsewhere and the consequences of unlinking all third-party accounts.
Use those official pages for account-specific decisions because linking rules and interface labels can change independently of the basic party workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I play ARC Raiders with friends?
Have everyone launch on Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S and complete Embark ID setup. From the lobby, open Social, use Friends and Add Friend to send an Embark ID request, wait for acceptance, then use the circle-and-plus party control above the play widget to invite the player. The party invitation must also be accepted.
Can PC, PS5, and Xbox players play ARC Raiders together?
Yes. Embark’s Friends & parties guidance explicitly lists Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for crossplay.
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Do I need an Embark ID to play ARC Raiders?
Yes. Embark says players need an Embark ID. New players can follow the creation prompt at first launch, while returning players can link an existing ID.
How do I add someone by Embark ID?
From the lobby, select Social in the lower-right corner, open Friends, choose Add Friend, enter the player’s Embark ID, and send the request. The recipient must accept it.
How do I invite a friend to an ARC Raiders party?
From the lobby, select the circle containing a plus sign above the play widget, choose the friend or recent player, and send the party invitation. The recipient joins after accepting.
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Yes. Open Social, choose Recent, select the player, and use Invite to Party. Embark’s instructions say this direct route does not require a prior friend connection.
Is crossplay the same as cross-progression?
No. Crossplay lets players on supported platforms join the same party. Cross-progression concerns carrying your own gear, progress, and cosmetics through the Embark account when switching platforms.
What should I do if my platform account is linked to another Embark ID?
Do not unlink every connected account or create a replacement account casually. Embark warns that unlinking all third-party game accounts can permanently delete the Embark ID, progress, and cosmetics. Use current official account-management support for the specific conflict.
Is there a confirmed party-size limit or required voice-chat setup?
The cited official instructions do not establish a universal party-size limit or voice-chat procedure. Use the slots and settings shown by the current game interface and consult current support for platform-specific details.
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Do I need a separate subscription, headset, or controller to join a crossplay party?
The official setup instructions do not establish those as requirements. They do establish the need for access to the game, a supported platform account, and an Embark ID.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: ARC Raiders crossplay supports Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Each player needs the correct Embark ID. Add friends through Social > Friends > Add Friend, wait for the request to be accepted, then invite them with the circle-and-plus party control above the lobby play widget. Recent players can be invited directly. Keep account linking separate from party setup, and never unlink every platform account casually because Embark warns that doing so can permanently delete progress and cosmetics.
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