Sea of Thieves Crossplay and Platforms
Sea of Thieves runs on Steam, the Microsoft Store and Game Pass, Xbox consoles, and PS5, with crossplay on by default and shared progression across all of them through your linked Microsoft account. You can restrict matchmaking to controller-only players from the in-game settings, which is the closest thing to a PC-versus-console filter, and PS5 players can opt out of crossplay more directly. Achievement lists differ per storefront: Steam carries 293 achievements while the Xbox list is larger, so a completionist run does not transfer.
Buying Sea of Thieves on Steam does not buy you a Steam-only game. You share every server with Xbox, PS5, and Game Pass players, and the game is built around that rather than apologizing for it.
Where can you buy it, and does it matter?
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| Steam | "Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition". Base $39.99, Deluxe $49.99, Premium $59.99 |
| Microsoft Store | Same game, Microsoft ecosystem |
| Xbox Game Pass | Included with a subscription rather than bought outright |
| Xbox consoles | Native |
| PS5 | Native, added later than the rest |
The game itself is identical. What changes is the achievement list, the storefront your purchase lives on, and whether you own it or are renting it through Game Pass.
Your progression is account-wide. Reputation, gold, cosmetics, Captaincy, and Guild membership all live on your Microsoft account, not on the storefront. Play on Steam at home and Xbox at a friend's house and it is the same pirate.
A Microsoft account is required regardless of where you bought the game, including on Steam and PS5. That link is what carries your progression between platforms.
How does crossplay work?
Crossplay is on by default and puts all platforms into the same matchmaking pool. In practice you have no way of knowing whether the Galleon chasing you is on Steam, Xbox, or PS5, and no way to tell from behavior either.
What you can do is filter by input method rather than by platform. The game's settings include matchmaking preferences that let you limit sessions to players using controllers, which is the practical way to avoid facing mouse and keyboard aim.
PS5 players have the most direct opt-out, with the ability to disable crossplay or restrict lobbies to console players from the options menu.
Restricting matchmaking to controller players is a preference, not a guarantee. The game matches you that way when it can, and falls back to the wider pool when there are not enough players available. Expect it to work most of the time rather than always.
Does input method actually matter?
Yes, but less than new players assume, and in specific places.
Where mouse and keyboard helps: Sniping with the Eye of Reach, and fast cannon aiming at range. Precision aiming is genuinely easier with a mouse.
Where it does not matter: Sailing, repairing, boarding, and everything to do with crew coordination. Which is most of the game.
A well-drilled controller crew beats an uncoordinated mouse and keyboard crew comfortably, because Sea of Thieves is decided by ship handling and damage control far more than by aim. Do not treat the input filter as a fix for losing fights.
The achievement split
This is the part that catches completionists out.
| Platform | Achievement list |
|---|---|
| Steam | 293 achievements |
| Xbox | A larger list, with Gamerscore values |
The two lists are different, not just differently displayed. Achievements you unlock on one storefront do not populate the other, so a full completion run on Steam does not hand you a full completion on Xbox.
If achievement completion matters to you, decide which platform is your home before you start. Full detail on the Steam list is in Achievements Overview.
Playing with friends across platforms
Inviting across platforms works through the in-game crew system and your friends list. The reliable method is adding each other as friends in-game rather than relying on Steam or PlayStation friend lists, since those do not cross the platform boundary.
For a mixed crew, everyone joins from the main menu into the same crew before launching into a session. Trying to join someone already at sea works, but only if their crew has an open slot on their ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sea of Thieves crossplay between Steam, Xbox, and PS5?
Yes, and it is enabled by default across Steam, the Microsoft Store, Game Pass, Xbox consoles, and PS5. All platforms share the same matchmaking pool, and your reputation, gold, and cosmetics carry across them through your linked Microsoft account.
Can you turn off crossplay in Sea of Thieves?
You can restrict matchmaking to controller-only players from the in-game settings, and PS5 players can disable crossplay or limit lobbies to console players more directly. These are preferences rather than guarantees, and the game widens the pool when player numbers require it.
Do Steam and Xbox share the same achievements?
No. Steam carries 293 achievements and the Xbox list is larger and separate. Unlocking an achievement on one storefront does not unlock it on the other, so a completionist should pick a home platform before starting.
Do you need a Microsoft account to play on Steam or PS5?
Yes. A Microsoft account is required on every platform including Steam and PS5, and that account is what stores your progression. It is the reason the same pirate, reputation, and cosmetics appear wherever you play.
Does mouse and keyboard give an advantage in Sea of Thieves?
Mainly for Eye of Reach sniping and long-range cannon aim. Sailing, repairing, boarding, and crew coordination are unaffected, and those decide most fights, so a well-drilled controller crew regularly beats an uncoordinated mouse and keyboard one.
What to Read Next
- Achievements Overview. All 293 Steam achievements, the rarest, and how the platform lists diverge.
- Getting Started. What to do first regardless of which platform you bought it on.
- Safer Seas and High Seas. Choosing a mode once you are in.
- PvP and the Hourglass of Fate. Where input method actually shows up in a fight.
- Seasons and Events. The live content cadence, which is identical on every platform.