Yes, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 supports crossplay between PC and PS5

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 lets you play with friends on PS5 if you are on PC, and vice versa. The game launched with crossplay enabled by default, so you can squad up across platforms without changing any settings. Your friend list syncs through your Activision account, which is the same account you use to log into the game on either platform.

Crossplay works in multiplayer matches, Zombies mode, and campaign co-op. You will be matched with players on all platforms in public lobbies, though some players disable crossplay in their settings if they prefer to play only against their own platform. If you want to play only with PC players or only with console players, you can turn crossplay off in your game settings — but doing so will limit the pool of available matches.

Key Takeaways

  • Black Ops 6 crossplay is turned on automatically, so PC and PS5 players are matched together in multiplayer, Zombies, and co-op campaign by default.
  • You need an Activision account to play on either platform, and your friends list and progress sync across PC and PS5 through that account.
  • Turning off crossplay in your settings will match you only with players on your own platform, but will reduce the number of available matches.
  • Input method does not affect matchmaking — a PC player using a controller will play against console players the same way a mouse-and-keyboard player does.
  • Party chat works across platforms, so you can voice communicate with PS5 friends while playing on PC without any extra setup.

How to set up your Activision account for crossplay

Before you can play with friends across platforms, you need to link your Activision account to both your PC game client and your PS5 account. On PC, launch Battle.net (the Blizzard launcher where Black Ops 6 lives), sign in or create an Activision account, and make sure your account email is verified. On PS5, go to Settings, then Account, then Linked Services, and search for Activision. Sign in with the same Activision account credentials you used on PC.

Once both are linked, your friends list will sync within a few minutes. You may see friends appear under their Activision username rather than their PS5 username, depending on what they set as their display name in their Activision profile. If a friend does not show up, ask them to verify their Activision account is linked on their end as well — the connection has to work both ways.

What happens to your progress when you play on both platforms

Your multiplayer rank, battle pass progress, and unlocked weapons carry over between PC and PS5. If you reach level 30 on PS5, you will be level 30 on PC the moment you log in. Weapon attachments, camos, and operator skins you earned on one platform are available on the other. This is one of the main reasons crossplay exists — so players can move between their devices without losing what they have built.

Campaign progress does not sync across platforms. If you play the campaign on PS5 and then switch to PC, you will start the campaign from the beginning on PC. Zombies progress also stays on the platform where you earned it. Only your multiplayer rank, cosmetics, and battle pass count carry over.

Turning crossplay on or off in your settings

Open Black Ops 6 and go to Settings, then Gameplay. Look for the Crossplay option — it is usually near the top of the list. The toggle is on by default. If you turn it off, you will only be matched with players on PS5 (if you are on PS5) or only with PC players (if you are on PC). Turning it off does not prevent you from playing with friends on other platforms in a private party — it only affects public matchmaking.

Be aware that turning off crossplay will increase your wait time for matches, especially during off-peak hours. The player pool shrinks significantly when you exclude an entire platform. Most players leave it on and do not notice the difference in performance between platforms.

Input method and competitive fairness

Black Ops 6 does not separate matchmaking based on whether you use a mouse and keyboard or a controller. A PC player with a mouse will play in the same lobbies as a PS5 player with a controller, and both will play against PC players using controllers. The game does not have an input-based ranking system.

Some competitive players argue that mouse and keyboard gives an advantage in aim-heavy modes, while others point out that controller aim information is tuned differently on console. The game's matchmaking does not account for this — it only looks at your skill rating and the platforms you have crossplay enabled for. If input method matters to you, you can use a controller on PC to level the feel, or you can disable crossplay to play only against your own platform.

Troubleshooting crossplay connection issues

If you cannot see a friend on the other platform, first check that both of you have Activision accounts linked. Ask them to log out of Black Ops 6 completely, close the game, and log back in — sometimes the friend list takes a moment to sync. If that does not work, go to your Activision account settings on the web, find the Linked Services section, and unlink PS5 or Battle.net, then link it again.

If you are getting matched with only your own platform even though crossplay is on, restart the game. If the problem persists, check your NAT type and firewall settings — a strict NAT can sometimes prevent crossplay connections, though it usually just increases your ping rather than blocking crossplay entirely. Restarting your router often fixes this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play campaign co-op with a friend on PS5 if I am on PC?

Yes. Start a campaign mission and invite your friend through the party system. They will join your session regardless of platform. Campaign co-op works the same way as multiplayer — you need both accounts linked to the same Activision account network, and you both need to be in a party together before you start the mission.

What if my friend has crossplay turned off on their PS5?

You can still play together in a private party and private matches. Crossplay off only affects public matchmaking. If you both join a private lobby together, platform does not matter. You will only be separated in public multiplayer queues.

Do I lose my progress if I unlink my Activision account from PS5?

No. Your progress is stored on Activision's servers, not on your PS5. Unlinking just disconnects the accounts — your rank and cosmetics stay in your Activision account. You can link a different PS5 account to the same Activision account and your progress will be there.

Is crossplay the same in Warzone as it is in Black Ops 6?

Warzone has its own crossplay system and is a separate game from Black Ops 6, though both use Activision accounts. Warzone crossplay works the same way — it is on by default and you can turn it off in settings. Your Activision account syncs across both games.