In a letter on Microsoft's website, Chris Charla - director of ID@Xbox, the indie-focused division of Xbox - has announced cross-network play for the Xbox One and Windows 10, allowing players across both platforms to play online together.
This may not seem applicable to PlayStation at first glance, but Charla's wording hints at the possibly of cross-play between Xbox One and PlayStation 4, saying "This [cross-play] means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks - including other console and PC networks" before announcing cross-play for the Xbox One version of Rocket League, and sneakily adding "an open invitation for other networks to participate as well".
Of course, there's a degree of speculation here, but Microsoft's wording seems to hint that cross-play between the PS4 and Xbox One is something that it would be up for. While it hasn't explicitly named Sony's machine, it's quite obvious that this is what Charla is hinting at.
What are your thoughts on cross-platform play? Would you support it if Sony were to implement this feature? Build some bridges between the two platforms in the comments.
[source news.xbox.com]
Comments 43
Pretty liberal interpretation of his words here, he probably was thinking "Microsoft" consoles but choose to use the word by itself, thinking longterm.
@sub12 Really? I think it's pretty clear from the whole statement he made and Psyonix employee statements that we can expect to see PS4 and Xb1 cross play with Rocket League being the first.
Cross play between PS4 and XB1 would be interesting. I can hear the trash talk now haha.
Cross play between console and PC works for some games whereas is would be totally unbalanced for others. Frame rate would be a massive issue for console gamers when playing multiplayer PvP first and third person shooters, with PC gamers having the edge.
Hmm....I've long thought of ms introducing xbl as a service, think "ps5 powered by Xbox live" should ms back out of the console business. Maybe this is a step in that direction, admittedly far down the road.
They can always lock the frame rate for online. Keyboard & mouse control is the real unbalanced element of pvp between console and pc.
Trying to make sense out of anything Microsoft says these days is like trying to decipher an alien language. And the aliens are all incredibly well versed in PR spin.
@mrobinson91
Maybe I'm wrong, it's something that has been talked about since the PS3 / 360 era, with no results. I'm not sure how Microsoft would benefit from it though......considering PS4 sales, the XB1 has done a pretty good job of keeping hold of the FPS community (despite the COD/Destiny - Sony deal). With cross play you wouldn't have to gravitate towards one side because that's where your friends play.
Personally I see NO issue with cross-play between both consoles. As long as it doesn't impact on the performance to either console - maybe because of a difference in some way between the coding for example, I really can't see it being an issue.
Having a bigger pool of players could and should improve the overall experience as the lobbies would be better populated and more 'local' and therefore reduce ping/lag issues. It could actually prolong the MP experience of games too. Instead of just a handful of players on each system left as time progresses, these would be combined to make a bigger pool and therefore not impact on the quality of that experience so negatively.
A reduced lobby makes the game quality significantly worse (increased ping/lag, more chance of language barriers, less choice of game modes - can't get matches in certain modes if not enough players playing it etc) and that drives more people away.
As I said, as long as it has no impact on the game and ability to communicate (thinking about things like Destiny's Raids, Objective based MP's), then I see NO reason why cross-play wouldn't be a good thing.
Sounds too good to be true but fingers crossed! It would be nice to be able to play games with my friends that are on the Xbox One. You know the capability has to be there, it's just whether or not Sony and Microsoft can play nice together. You shouldn't feel burdened to buy a console just because that's what your friends have.
I would not mind more cross play games. But the issue is if you are cross playing with a PC and its a shooter they are at a competitive advantage using the mouse.
I know you are joking but let's not do any stereotyping please. Thanks -Tasuki-
I can't see what benefit it would bring to Sony or the PlayStation brand tbh. Especially when Sony has allowed cross platform play with certain games on PC for ages. It smacks of Microsoft trying to hang onto to the tail of a horse that's already bolted. I bet they wouldn't have thought of such things if the sales had been the other way around.
I thought this was one of the reasons Street Fighter went with Sony, because the Xbox wouldn't support crossplay with PC and they wanted a larger audience so there would be more people of different skill levels on at any one time.
Interesting that they've seemingly changed their minds.
Can't say I'm convinced of this idea geared towards the PlayStation brand. But may be an "idea" hint to cross play with this so called NX console. Spencer has been saying some gracious things towards Nintendo starting a year ago if I'm not mistaken (not to say there is anything wrong with being gracious)..
I think this is great news. It means for one I could play games with my friends who own Xbox without having to own an Xbox as well as a PS4. Also as @BAMozzy said it means bigger pools of players and an easier time of getting groups.
@BigDaddyT0101 No it's not there not going anywhere. It's been confirmed by Microsoft themselves. There's no need for them to back down anyway. Xbox one is doing well in sales in terms of profiting. They are just not selling as many number of consoles as ps4. Plus nobody who owns a ps4 want to go out and by an Xbox just to play with other people they know who might own a Xbox vise versa.
I think Microsoft my be exiting from the console market soon.
It would make for some interesting fun for certain games.I think this could also spell the end for XBOX gaming as a console manufacturer.
@adf86 Absolutely, they tried to make a DRM fueled underpowered vhs box and got their comeuppance. I loved the xbox and 360, but they used those machines as a Trojan horse before they closed off the ecosystem so we all buy Microsoft windows for the millionth time. Your spot on.
@Tasuki sorry bro, was a joke.
@themcnoisy Not mention with the recent going ons regarding UWD and automatic installs of Windows 10. I've learned years ago that when Microsoft announce something, you always ask "what's the catch" even their much talked about BC has a catch "needs publisher approval"
This has been mentioned before on the previous generation, and as far as I remember Microsoft said no. Sony did consider it back then.
Would be great if this happened for me! Most of my friends own Xbox One so I hope it happens. Doubtful though...
@themcnoisy Nothing to be sorry bout man. I just don't need someone taking it the wrong way and blowing up the comment section. It's all good.
I fully supported the DRM that Microsoft tried to introduce. Its a shame Sony did not do it as well.
@BigDaddyT0101 MS isn't exiting the console business.
@NomNom No they aren't.
@dryrain You can't be serious.
@ShogunRok Below are not my words but from Xbox, so it'll be cool if you wanna pay the bill. I could say this makes me want to PC game more, for obvious reasons.
"Of course, it’s up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players"
@Tasuki @dryrain He's not alone, Microsoft allegedly was going to allow tons of game sharing, which would've been pretty enticing if you ask me
MS trying to recoup the losses that have come hand in hand with the Xbox division. I can't see them making another console after this.
@wittypixel But at what cost though? The sense of ownership would be gone along with the used game market which I and many others rely on to keep gaming on a regular basis. Microsoft could have kept game sharing but they threw the baby out with the bath water. It's like I've always said, Xbox One doesn't have a vision because it allowed itself to be dictatored by it's competition, now they are ultimately paying the price.
@Grawlog I agree with that 100% I just want the best everything possible gaming wise. whoever makes that is not my concern
@Grawlog I've never owned an X Box but I'd hate to see them go - mainly because it would be sign of consoles going away, which I totally don't want.
It's possible to stick fudge in a toaster, there's nothing wrong with hot fudge. But why.
There's nothing wrong with supporting all of the systems and wanting them all to succeed, but Xbox is most definitely not doing "fine". Do you think they're content getting beat in their two most important countries while Sony eats their lunch in Asia and Continental Europe as well?
I don't think there's anything wrong with having the discussion as long as we're sensible about it. The same would be true if Sony was going through a rough patch, too.
I don't mind, would be good to have a bigger pool of players. Older online games would last longer in theory so good news if it did happen.
Probably more likely that MS will team up with Sega and create the SegaXQube1
@get2sammyb
I think Microsoft is theoretically doing fine with Xbox, as in they could keep third party support and have enough clout to launch a follow on console.......but I reckon for Microsoft, that's not enough (as you alluded). Obviously some kind of strategic shift has been made and they are trying to put a PR spin on it.
Bit of a shame though, as I feel under Spencer's leadership, the Xbox brand should have continued to strive as the console for the hardcore / exclusives (albeit you can argue that), while they gather resources for their next console and a smarter launch.
@sub12 From my perspective, the PR job on Spencer has been masterful. He literally had Yoshida's job previously, and is responsible for the lacklustre first-party output they have. (Some people might like it, and that's fine - not criticising if you do.)
I dunno. In my opinion, Mattrick was really thrown under a bus once he left - the rest of the team must have bought into his vision. And I'm not sure exactly what Spencer's changed other than ditching any small slivers of identity that Xbox had in a desperate attempt to rescue a small portion of market share from a rampant Sony.
All my opinion, but that's my read on things. Y'all welcome to disagree.
@get2sammyb
Yes, starting from 2010, Microsoft's software efforts became very Kinect focused with only a small amount of truly AAA core games (Gears, Forza, Halo). In the end that didn't really do them many favors, I know quite a few people who switched over from the 360 to the PS3 during the last gen's waning years.
@get2sammyb
As for Mattrick, who knows what he's like personally, but publicly, he personifies the arrogant and cocky businessman (who by 2013, was also out of touch). Spencer, like you said, whether he actually means it or not, has done a masterful job on the PR side (for the most part).
But, from the sounds of it, the shifting focus may have more to do with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella's polcies than it has to do with Spencer's. IE, renew the focus on Windows while also making Microsoft products available on a wide variety of platforms vice tying them down to their own systems.
Let's not forget that the Xbox was born by putting together something like 5 Dell laptops and the main reason they were looking at the home console business was cause at the time console gaming was doing alot better sales wise then PC gaming. Now PC is keeping up with the consoles so honesty why would MS need a console now devoted to gaming?
Why have several comments of people who are not looking forward to this been removed?
Personally if I think Microsoft should drop out of consoles and go multiplatform but focus on creating and adapting the tech that runs games like DX12, Havok etc. That's what there good at and where they thrive but they still seems like there wanting to steal a slice of Sony and Valve's pie when they don't need to.
Tap here to load 43 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...