Microsoft Invites Sony To Join Forces In Bringing Cross-Network Play
Microsoft has issued an open invitation to its competitor in the gaming console industry, Sony, to take part in bringing cross-network play to life. According to a report in The Verge, Microsoft is already working on bringing cross-network play as a new feature to the Xbox One. It also reported that developers of games for the Xbox One and Windows 10 are already building in support for the said feature. Ultimately however, only Sony's willingness to join these efforts will make cross-platform a reality.
The Verge also reported that "Rocket League" is one of the first titles that will support this new feature, which make possible Xbox One players to play with PC players online. PlayStation players can join so long as Sony allows them to do so, according to the report.
Sony issued a response to Microsoft's invitation one day after it was given, as reported in GameSpot. Their response indicated that they were "open-minded" to the possibility of cross-platform play and that they were willing to sit down and talk with publishers and developers about such a possibility. Their statement read: "We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross platform play." According to the report, their response which did not specify working with Microsoft or Xbox Live is an "indecisive" one because of its vagueness.
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Sony also mentioned that they were already implementing cross-platform play between their PlayStation consoles and PC as early as the year 2002. For PS4 players, the PlayStation Network is already allowing PS4 players to play with gamers who are on Steam using their PCs.
According to the report on The Verge, Microsoft has already laid the "groundwork" to make real cross-platform play possible. One of its developer directors, Chris Charla said that beyond cross-platform play support between the Xbox One and Windows 10 through Xbox Live, they are "enabling developers to support cross-network play as well. This 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 consoles and PC networks."
