KartRider: Drift Cross Play – How It Works

KartRider: Drift is here, bringing a Mario Kart-like experience to the masses. It’s free, features a wide range of characters and karts to unlock, and is available on most platforms. That includes mobile, PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. If you’re wondering why Switch was left out, well, it might have a little something to do with a little moustachioed plumber. However, that’s not the point of this article. Here, we answer the question: is there KartRider: Drift cross play?

But before we move onto that: what’s KartRider: Drift, we hear some of you cry? Well, it’s a kart racer that plays quite similarly to Mario Kart. You play as a number of different characters, customise your kart, and duke it out with your friends in a number of different races. These arrive in many different modes, including item, speed, and more.

You can learn more about it on the official site. If you’re just getting started, we’ve got a bunch of guides prepared for you. Check out our KartRider: Drift codes, KartRider: Drift tier list, KartRider: Drift characters, KartRider: Drift items, KartRider: Drift karts, and KartRider: Drift tracks.

KartRider: Drift Cross Play

In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about cross play in KartRider: Drift. We’ll go over if it exists, how it works, and everything else you need to know.

Is There Cross Play?

Yes, KartRider: Drift features cross play across the two platforms it’s currently available on: PC and mobile.

We know this because, when viewing the loading screen or list of players in-game while racing, you can view each player’s platform just to the right of their avatar. The symbol that looks like a desktop monitor is for PC users, while mobile users icon looks curiously like a Nintendo Switch.

Can I Play With Friends?

Absolutely! And it doesn’t seem to matter which platform you’re playing on. Here’s how to do it in steps:

1. Launch KartRider: Drift
2. On the main menu, tap on character icon just to the left of the settings cog
3. Hit ‘Add Friend’ under the ‘Nexon’ heading
4. Scroll down to ‘Search’ and search for their character name
5. Add them as a friend and nudge them to accept
6. Press ‘X’ and go back to ‘Party’
7. Tap on a vacant ‘Party Member’ slot and invite a friend
8. Once done, simply select your game mode as usual and enter a match to race with friends

How Do I Turn Off Cross Play?

That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? Well, we have bad news for you: it’s not currently possible to turn off cross play in KartRider: Drift. You’re simply stuck with playing with players across all platforms.

However, there’s no real reason to despair, as there isn’t an enormous advantage to playing KartRider: Drift on each platform. It’s not like a shooter, where a mouse and keyboard might provide a legitimate advantage.

Glen Fox

Head of Editorial

Glen has over a decade's worth of experience in gaming journalism, writing for Pocket Gamer, Pocket Tactics, Nintendo Life, and Gfinity. When he's not badgering everyone about the dangers of passive text, you can probably find him playing Wild Rift.