> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cross-platform multiplayer design guidance

> Design guidance for combining PlayFab, MPSD, and SmartMatch in cross-platform multiplayer titles targeting XBOX, PC, PlayStation, Steam, iOS, and Android.

This topic describes how you can use and combine our services for cross-platform title development.

To provide you with maximum design control, we made our multiplayer components and services flexible enough so that they can be used as a full suite solution or combined with your studio's custom implementation/other middleware solution.

If you are developing specifically for XBOX and PC titles, see [XBOX and PC multiplayer design guidance](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/multiplayer-design-guidance-xbox-pc-gdk) instead.

## Currently supported platforms

* Android
* iOS
* PlayStation®
* Steam
* XBOX
* Windows PC

We are constantly improving our technologies and services to meet the needs of developers. We love to hear from you, so give us your feedback on [XBOX developer forum](https://forums.xboxlive.com/).

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

## Multiplayer server-client design

In a server-client design, authoritative game logic is hosted in the server.

Image below shows how our services work together to create a multiplayer game session using the server-client architecture.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/microsoft-4404708b/ktEik-YaZoen6Rhy/images/gdk/services/multiplayer-cross-platform-server-client-simplified.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ktEik-YaZoen6Rhy&q=85&s=0af26eac1fff8f26e83c4fbce05aec0a" alt="Microsoft multiplayer services for cross-platform server-client architecture" width="2062" height="1156" data-path="images/gdk/services/multiplayer-cross-platform-server-client-simplified.png" />

## Multiplayer client-host design

In a client-host design, clients act as hosts. This means clients can provide authoritative game logic and game states management.

When developing games using this design, you can use Party to enable chat and data communication by allowing clients to automatically connect to one another through a transparent, low-latency cloud relay.

You can view this as a peer-to-peer architecture but has a relay for communication. The use of a transparent, low-latency relay avoids IP leaks and other related security concerns that are associated with traditional peer-to-peer implementation and therefore, improves online safety for your players.

Image below shows how our services work together to create a multiplayer game session using the client-host design.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/microsoft-4404708b/ktEik-YaZoen6Rhy/images/gdk/services/multiplayer-cross-platform-client-host-simplified.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ktEik-YaZoen6Rhy&q=85&s=194ee31448702ea8eeafa81298384b96" alt="Microsoft multiplayer services for cross-platform client-host architecture" width="2047" height="1158" data-path="images/gdk/services/multiplayer-cross-platform-client-host-simplified.png" />

## How to combine solutions for cross-platform titles

Table below shows a couple different combinations and technologies you can use to create your desired multiplayer experience.

<Note>XBOX social experiences around invites, joins, and recent players is a XBOX requirement (XR) for XBOX and PC for Windows titles only.</Note>

| Various combinations | Networking      | Voice and text chat | Session                                     | Matchmaking                                       | Invites/join (Needed for XBOX/PC titles only) |
| -------------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| 1                    | PlayFab Party   | PlayFab Party       | Custom solution                             | PlayFab Matchmaking                               | Multiplayer Activity (MPA) 20.06+             |
| 2                    | Custom solution | PlayFab Party       | Custom solution                             | PlayFab Matchmaking                               | MPA 20.06+                                    |
| 3                    | PlayFab Party   | Custom solution     | Custom solution                             | PlayFab Matchmaking                               | MPA 20.06+                                    |
| 4                    | PlayFab Party   | PlayFab Party       | Custom solution                             | PlayFab Matchmaking                               | MPA 20.06+                                    |
| 5                    | Custom solution | Custom solution     | Custom solution                             | Custom solution                                   | MPA 20.06+                                    |
| 6                    | Custom solution | PlayFab Party       | Custom solution                             | Custom solution                                   | MPA 20.06+                                    |
| 7                    | PlayFab Party   | PlayFab Party       | PlayFab Lobby (via PlayFab Multiplayer SDK) | PlayFab Matchmaking (via PlayFab Multiplayer SDK) | PlayFab Lobby (via PlayFab Multiplayer SDK)   |

Key: **Custom solution** means you are using an in-house implementation or other non-Microsoft middleware solutions.

## See also

* [Multiplayer overview](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/multiplayer-intro)
* [XBOX and PC multiplayer design guidance](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/multiplayer-design-guidance-xbox-pc-gdk)
* [Multiplayer concepts overview](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/concepts/live-multiplayer-concepts)
* [Common multiplayer scenarios](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/live-common-multiplayer-scenarios)


## Related topics

- [XBOX and PC multiplayer design guidance](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/multiplayer-design-guidance-xbox-pc-gdk.md)
- [XBOX services multiplayer overview](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/live-multiplayer-intro.md)
- [Overviews](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/index.md)
- [PlayFab Party overview](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/index.md)
- [XR-007 Cross-Network Play — Multiplayer implementation](/publishing/certification/xr/xr-007-multiplayer.md)