Fuck Yeah: Sony finally allowing cross-play starting with ‘Fornite’
I’m happy about this. Not so much because it directly impacts me, but it shows Sony listening to its fans. They could sit fat and happy on top, but why not keep padding its image?
UPROXX:
Sony has been against cross-platform gaming for a long time, essentially limiting users who buy PlayStation games from playing online with others gamers on Xbox One, PC or the Nintendo Switch. The Playstation Experience, the theory goes, could help Sony keep quality control in place and also, well, make sure you have to buy a PlayStation to play with your other playstation friends.
Battle royale games have brought up a lot of different legal issues, but the ability to play Fortnite on a variety of different consoles opens up a wide world of possibilities for the game itself. In the case of cross-platform play for this title in particular, it seems to be more about Sony’s policies more than whether it was actually possible technologically. Earlier in the year, Fortnite maker Epic apparently mistakenly allowed cross-platform play across its games. That was soon shut down, as it violated Sony’s gaming standards.
The first step will be an open beta beginning today for Fortnite that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac operating systems. We see the beta as an opportunity to conduct thorough testing that ensures cross-platform play is best on PlayStation, while being mindful about the user experience from both a technical and social perspective.
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.
The move means Fortnite is the first PS4 game to offer cross-console play, but the statement hinted at the fact that more titles will be allowed to interact with titles on other platforms in the future.