War Thunder is much more fun with friends — and it supports full crossplay between PC (Windows, Mac, Linux), PlayStation and Xbox on the same servers. Here’s how to add friends, form a squad and avoid the common problems that stop you queuing together.
Table of Contents
Squad basics
- A normal squad holds up to 4 players.
- During some squadron events, squads can hold up to 8 players.
- The squad leader chooses the game mode, and everyone must have a vehicle lineup that’s allowed in it.
- The match is based on the highest Battle Rating in the squad, so agree on a BR before you queue.
Step 1: Add your friends
- Open the Contacts / Friends panel in the main menu (the people icon at the bottom right on PC).
- Use Search and type your friend’s exact in-game nickname.
- Console players’ nicknames often include a platform symbol — copy the name exactly as it appears, symbol included.^ for PlayStation-linked or @-style marks) — include it exactly as shown.
- Click their name and choose Add to friends.
Step 2: Invite them to a squad
- Right-click (or select) your friend in the friends list.
- Choose Invite to Squad.
- Your friend accepts the invite from their notifications.
- You’ll see squad members’ portraits at the top of the hangar when it works.
Step 3: Pick a mode and matching lineups
- The squad leader selects the mode (for example Ground Realistic).
- Everyone picks vehicles with similar BRs — within about 0.3–0.7 of each other works best.
- Each member clicks Ready, then the leader presses To Battle!
If one friend is much higher than the others, the whole squad gets matched at that friend’s BR, and lower-BR players will struggle.
Crossplay tips
- PC players can always squad with console players.
- PlayStation: make sure crossplay is allowed in the game settings.
- Xbox: crossplay is controlled by your Xbox privacy and online safety settings (“You can join cross-network play”), not just the game menu.
- Console players may need to search for PC players’ nicknames exactly, and vice versa.
Playing together without matchmaking
- Custom Battles: create a room from the Custom battles menu, set a password and invite friends — great for training or 1v1s.
- Co-op missions: fight AI enemies together in Assault or other co-op modes when available.
- Squadrons: join the same squadron to earn squadron research points and play Squadron Battles.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Crossplay disabled” message | Enable crossplay in game settings (PS) or Xbox privacy settings |
| Can’t find friend by name | Copy the exact nickname including symbols |
| Squad can’t queue | Someone’s lineup isn’t valid for that mode — check BR and vehicle types |
| Constant uptiers | Match your squad’s BRs more closely |
FAQ
How many people can be in a War Thunder squad?
Up to 4 normally, and up to 8 in certain squadron events.
Can PC and console play War Thunder together?
Yes. War Thunder has crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
Can I play War Thunder split-screen?
No. Each player needs their own device and account.
Next: best nation for beginners and Battle Rating explained.
Hi, I’m Emam Hasan — an English teacher and the founder of Anirban Lexicon Center in Mirpur, Dhaka. I run Takedownloads to share honest game guides, tips and app reviews that help players choose well and play better. Alongside teaching, I work in digital marketing and SEO, and I enjoy turning complex topics into simple, helpful lessons anyone can follow.
