SCP: Secret Laboratory is officially a Windows-only player game. Northwood Studios lists Windows 10 or Windows 11 21H1 (build 19043) or newer, 64-bit, for the client. There is no documented native client for macOS, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android or iOS, so officially supported Mac-to-PC, Linux-to-PC and console-to-PC cross-play is not available. Dedicated servers can run on Windows or Ubuntu, but a server’s operating system does not add unsupported client platforms.
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What “cross-platform” means for SCP: Secret Laboratory
Cross-platform play means that supported clients built for different operating systems or consoles can join the same online session. That is different from server portability: a game may let you host a server on Linux while still requiring every player to use a Windows client.
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For SCP:SL, Northwood’s published requirements identify a Windows client only. The supported multiplayer arrangement is therefore a Windows 10/11 PC running the game and connecting to an SCP:SL server. Servers may be hosted on additional operating systems, but that does not create a Mac, Linux or console version of the player game.
Which platforms officially run the game?
| Use | Officially listed platform | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Player client | Windows 10/11 21H1 or newer (build 19043+), x64 | This is the supported desktop client configuration. |
| Dedicated server | Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2022 or newer, or Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, all x64 | These systems can host a server; they are not additional player-client platforms. |
| Linux client through Proton or Wine | Not supported | Northwood explicitly says compatibility-layer client use remains unsupported. |
| macOS client through Wine or another compatibility layer | Not supported | The same Northwood policy applies to Mac clients. |
| Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and mobile | No official client listed | The published requirements do not document versions for these platforms. |
The Windows requirement is an operating-system and architecture requirement, not merely a recommendation. A 64-bit Windows installation is part of the listed client target. If a computer is running an older Windows release, a 32-bit installation or an unsupported operating system, it does not match the documented configuration even if the hardware appears powerful enough.
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Can someone on Linux or macOS play with a Windows friend?
Not through an officially supported SCP:SL client. Northwood’s 2024 requirements announcement states: “Additionally, running the client on Linux/MacOS using compatibility layers (such as Proton and Wine) will remain unsupported.” That wording matters: a compatibility layer may allow a particular Windows build to launch in some circumstances, but Northwood does not support that setup.
Community reports of a successful launch, a virtual machine, or a particular Proton version should be treated as experiments rather than a supported cross-play feature. They can break after a game, anti-cheat, graphics-driver or compatibility-layer update, and official troubleshooting may require reproducing the problem on supported Windows hardware.
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Does SCP: Secret Laboratory have console cross-play?
No official console client or console cross-play ecosystem is documented in the cited platform requirements. Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch are not listed as player platforms, and neither are Android or iOS. You should not promise that a console player can join a PC server, or that a PC player can join a console-hosted session.
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The safest way to describe the game is “officially Windows-only for players, with multiplayer servers that can be hosted on Windows or Ubuntu.” This wording separates what is documented from possible unofficial experiments or future announcements.
How servers fit into the platform question
A server can use a different operating system
An SCP:SL dedicated server is a separate program. Northwood lists Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2022 or newer, and Ubuntu 22.04 or newer (x64) for dedicated servers. Consequently, a Linux Ubuntu machine can host a session that Windows players join; Linux is supported in this server role, not as a supported player-client role.
Players still need the supported client
Every person joining that server still needs a compatible SCP:SL client. Hosting on Ubuntu does not allow a Mac or Linux desktop to join with a native or officially supported client. Think of the server as the meeting point and the Windows application as the required ticket for each player.
Official and community servers are different
Official servers are operated under Northwood’s own ecosystem, while community servers can be run by individuals or groups with their own administration, plugins and rules. Both types are part of the same general multiplayer model, but community configuration can affect maps, moderation, voice rules and stability.
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Northwood’s pinned announcement dated December 12, 2025 listed regional official servers including Northwood US/CA, Kitchen Island AU, China Official and Underground DE, among others. That list is date-sensitive rather than a permanent directory. The same announcement recorded official-server applications and content-creator or other partnership applications as closed at that time; their status can change in a later announcement.
What you need for a supported Windows setup
- A 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation meeting the 21H1/build 19043 or newer client requirement.
- A stable internet connection suitable for online multiplayer.
- Access to the game through its supported PC distribution.
- A microphone if you intend to use in-game voice chat. Steam’s SCP:SL support listing marks a microphone as required for voice chat.
A headset with an integrated microphone is the simplest way to satisfy the voice requirement and avoid speaker feedback. Voice hardware is not a separate platform feature: it is an accessory requirement for the communication functions of the Windows client.
How to host an SCP:SL dedicated server
The SCP:SL technical wiki documents a dedicated-server tool available through Steam and installable with SteamCMD. Its Steam application ID is 996560. The following workflow applies the documented Windows and Linux hosting model; exact firewall, service and administration settings depend on your operating system and network.
1. Choose a supported server machine
Use a 64-bit installation of Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2022 or newer, or Ubuntu 22.04 or newer. Keep the server system separate from the player-client question: Ubuntu is suitable for hosting even though an Ubuntu desktop is not a supported client.
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2. Install SteamCMD
Install SteamCMD for the server operating system, create a dedicated directory for the game files, and open SteamCMD. The technical wiki documents SteamCMD as the installation route for the dedicated-server tool.
3. Download or update the public server build
Sign in to SteamCMD as an anonymous user when the tool requests authentication, select the server installation directory, and run:
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app_update 996560 validateThe validate option checks the downloaded files. Repeat the update command when you intentionally update the server or need to repair missing or corrupted files.
4. Configure administration and networking
Use the server’s documented configuration and LocalAdmin workflow to set permissions, server name, gameplay settings and moderation controls. Make the required game port reachable through the host firewall and router if players outside your local network must connect. Port numbers and configuration keys can change with server releases, so use the current technical-wiki instructions for the build you installed rather than copying settings from an old guide.
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5. Start the server and test with a Windows client
Launch the dedicated-server executable using the documented startup method for your operating system. First test from the same network, then test an external connection. Confirm that the server appears as intended, that players can join, that voice chat works with a configured microphone and that administrator commands are restricted to trusted accounts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Resource requirements for a small server
The SCP:SL technical wiki gives a guide-level baseline of 3 GB of RAM, a two-core CPU and 4 GB of storage for a full 25-player server without plugins or modifications. These figures are minimum guidance from the wiki, not a current Northwood guarantee for every release or heavily modified server.
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|---|---|---|
| 25-player server, no plugins or modifications | 3 GB RAM; 2-core CPU; 4 GB storage | Technical-wiki guidance; actual needs rise with plugins, modifications, logging and concurrent services. |
| More players or substantial plugins | Not stated | Do not infer a precise requirement from the baseline; monitor CPU, memory, disk and network use. |
Storage also needs headroom for updates, logs and configuration backups. A server that technically starts at the baseline can still become unreliable if the operating system, SteamCMD cache and logs consume the remaining disk space.
Common platform and server misunderstandings
“Linux server support means Linux client support”
It does not. Ubuntu appears in the dedicated-server requirements, while Northwood separately excludes Linux client use through Proton or Wine.
“If the game launches through Proton, it is supported”
Launch success is not the same as official support. Northwood’s explicit policy leaves Proton and Wine client configurations unsupported.
“A community server creates cross-play”
Community servers can broaden hosting choices and add custom content, but they cannot supply an official client for a platform Northwood does not list.
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“The official-server list is permanent”
Server regions, operators and application policies can change. The December 12, 2025 announcement is a dated record, not a promise that every named server or application channel remains available.
Quick Recap
Bottom line for different players
| Your situation | Supported answer |
|---|---|
| You use Windows 10/11 x64 meeting the stated build requirement | You are using the officially documented client platform and can join supported SCP:SL servers. |
| You use Ubuntu or another Linux desktop | You may host a server on the listed Ubuntu version, but Linux client play through Proton or Wine is unsupported. |
| You use macOS | No officially supported Mac client is documented; compatibility-layer use remains unsupported. |
| You use Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or mobile | No official client or cross-play path is documented for those platforms. |
| You want to host for Windows friends | Use a supported Windows or Ubuntu dedicated-server environment and install app ID 996560 with SteamCMD. |
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