Exploring Crossplay and Lakeshore Online in Need for Speed Unbound

January 8, 2026: This guide has been updated to reflect that Need For Speed Unbound is part of the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for January 2026.

Need for Speed Unbound features crossplay, allowing players on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC to connect, but it’s limited to the Lakeshore Online mode and not available during the main Story. This means you can race alongside your friends in an anime-inspired environment, regardless of the platform, as long as you’re connected as EA Friends to meet up on the streets.

With over 140 vehicles in the game, there’s no shortage of options to choose from in the Need for Speed Unbound cars list.

The crossplay feature opens up a larger pool of competitors, enhancing the thrill of racing with plenty of drifting and nitrous boosts. However, some players may prefer to compete only against others on the same platform for a more balanced experience. We’ll explain how crossplay works and provide instructions on how to disable it if you choose not to use it.

Crossplay is enabled by default in Need for Speed Unbound, meaning you’ll automatically be matched with players from Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC in Lakeshore Online. Keep in mind that the main Story mode is a single-player experience. If crossplay is active, you’ll see a notification screen before joining a Lakeshore Online session. Once you’re in, you can invite friends from any supported platform, provided you’re EA Friends.

To turn off crossplay and race only with players on your platform, go to the Settings and Accessibility menu, then open the Game section and toggle the slider next to Enable Cross-Play to off. This setting can only be changed from the main menu, so you’ll need to exit your current session to adjust your matchmaking preferences.

Curious about our thoughts on the latest NFS? Check out our review of Need for Speed Unbound, where we called it “A breathtakingly fast open-world street racer.”