Microsoft has taken a bold step with the Xbox One and, by extension, Xbox Live. The console now has the potential to enable cross-platform play with other consoles, meaning the concept of playing multi-platform games across different consoles is something that may become a reality rather than fantasy.
Describing the new feature on Microsoft’s Xbox Wire blog, ID@Xbox’s Chris Carla said that:
“In addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we’re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well.”
Yes, playing online-enabled, team-based or co-op games that include PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC players is now possible, but there’s a catch: Carla says that the decision to allow such a thing is entirely up to the discretion of each individual developer.
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.
Of course, the potential may be there, but no there are currently no games that support cross-platform play between Xbox and PlayStation players, nor may there ever be. But it’s possible, nonetheless. It’s a much different story for Xbox One and PC players, though. Rocket League developer Psyonix have already confirmed that their title is due to take advantage of the new freedom, and will soon allow Xbox One players to play directly with PC players. Lovely.
