Will there be cross platform between Xbox and PS4?

Essentially, that means that PlayStation players will now be able to play against Xbox One owners for (pretty much) the first time ever.

It will start with an open beta beginning today for Fortnite (what else?), allowing “cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce” across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac.

Previously, it was possible to play Fortnite against users other platforms with a bit of fiddling – but even that did not allow for PlayStation players to take on opponents using Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.

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In a statement, Sony said it “represents a major policy change for SIE”. For a long time, it seemed they were very resistant to any kind of interaction with other consoles.

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“Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content,” the statement continued. “We recognise that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution.

“For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective. Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform”.

This is the first time Sony has let this happen - though last year Fortnite publishers Epic Games accidentally allowed crossplay for a brief period, before disabling it.

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At the moment, it is just the Fortnite open beta that will offer crossplay. But it might not be long before your able to take on your mates who own a different console at FIFA or Call of Duty.

One of the most tedious problems gamers encountered in the past whenever they wanted to play games with their friends was owning the same title on an entirely different platform. Gamers couldn’t play games with their friends who owned different consoles.

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However, things have now changed as many multiplayer titles allow players to interact and engage with their friends across different platforms, whether it be PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, or even PC. So, what games currently feature cross platform and crossplay functionality? Join us as we delve into all the cross platform games that are currently available and all those being released in the near and far future.

The History of Crossplay

Cross platform and crossplay have come a long way if you think about it. Before the introduction of the PS3 and Xbox 360, consoles typically lacked built-in internet connections, and some consoles required special hardware to be able to just connect to the internet. You’d be wrong to think crossplay wasn’t an idea that was on the table back in the day. It was the 1998 Sega Dreamcast that included a built-in modem allowing users to connect to the internet. 

This led to Sega collaborating with Microsoft to provide developers access to make crossplay games between Windows and the Sega Dreamcast. Players got to enjoy Maximum Pool, Quake 3 Arena, 4×4 Evo, and Phantasy Star Online multiplayer across both platforms. Later in 2000, Sony launched the PlayStation 2, which supported online play with the help of an external modem. 

This addition made it possible for Sega Dreamcast and PS2 owners to play against each other in the Japanese versions of Capcom vs SNK2 via KDDI’S Matchmaking service, making it the first title to feature crossplay between game consoles from competing manufacturers. Later in 2002, Square Enix went ahead and introduced crossplay between Windows PC and PS2 for Final Fantasy XI.

Fast forward to the present, nearly all competitors in the console and gaming industry have made sure to implement crossplay in some, if not all, of their titles. This just goes to show the demand for crossplay for online multiplayer games. The feature has come a long way, and it’s one that players can’t seem to live without.

Difference between Crossplay and Cross Platform Games

The developing market in the gaming industry has introduced a lot of buzzwords in the gaming industry that do tend to throw off the gaming community to an extent. While some of you may know the stark difference between Crossplay and Cross Platform, most of you might have assumed both terms to mean the one and the same. So, let’s get into our Gaming Terminology 101 for today.

Cross Platform is a terminology that means that a specific piece of software, the same version of it, is capable of running on a different platform. So, what does this mean in the gaming industry? In other words, it means a title is not going to be exclusive to one specific console. Let’s add an example to better understand this. The Forza Horizon Series was initially an Xbox-exclusive franchise, but Microsoft decided to bring Forza to the Windows PC. Thus allowing its availability for two platforms, making it a cross platform game.

But what’s crossplay? Things get a little interesting here as every crossplay game is a cross platform game but not every cross platform game is a crossplay game. Take the example of Overwatch which features Partial Crossplay. Players in normal matches can participate in crossplay matches that allow users across the PC and consoles to partake in matches against each other. But things change up when the competitive queue is introduced. The competitive queue restricts crossplay disabling players from competing across different platforms.

Games That Support Crossplay So Far

Knowing this, your interest might be piqued as to which games currently support cross platform play for users to enjoy. Here’s a list of all the games that currently support crossplay across a multitude of platforms, such as Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S|X, Windows PC, and PS4|PS5.

Upcoming Cross Platform Games and Crossplay Games

But that’s not all, many games are set to release in the future with crossplay support available straight out of the box.

The Future of Crossplay Games?

For decades now, console competitors have consistently tried to maintain the exclusivity of their titles, preventing them from making their way to other competitors. This can be seen as a definite threat to crossplay games. It’s done by companies to ensure that players don’t leave their respective platforms and ecosystems.

But this thinking is becoming a thing of the past now. In March 2016, Microsoft set off with a new initiative, allowing Xbox One users to crossplay with Windows PC gamers without needing the Xbox LIVE Service. 

The first game to get this treatment was Rocket League back in May of 2016. Microsoft sent the invitation out to both Steam and Nintendo with the Vice President of the Xbox division of the time, Mike Ybarra, stating:

 “It’s more about gamer choice, more about making an IP on our platform last longer. I don’t care about where they play. I just want people to have fun playing games because that’s just better for the industry.” – Mike Ybarra

Nintendo initially stayed off the crossplay train and was considered a closed platform. Still, some Nintendo games allowed crossplay between its own consoles, such as Dragon Quest between the Wii and Wii U and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate between the 3DS and Wii U, just to name a few.

From the looks of it, it’s pretty evident that crossplay is here to stay, and as the barriers go down between console competitors in the future, crossplay will become the absolute norm in the future. It was in an interview with Bloomberg where Phil Spencer, the CEO of Xbox and Microsoft Gaming, expressed his wishes for a crossplay future.

“Maybe you happen in your household to buy an Xbox, and I buy a PlayStation, and our kids want to play together, and they can’t because we bought the wrong piece of plastic to plug into our television,” – Phil Spencer

And that’s pretty much it for today’s list of all cross-platform games that have been announced and released so far. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below. We upload daily, so stay tuned for more. Till then, see you later and goodbye!

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