Sony Remains Open To Microsoft’s Cross-Network Play Gaming Invitation
Microsoft dropped a bombshell earlier this week when it announced at the 2016 Game Developers Conference that Xbox One would support cross-network play, paving the way for Xbox One gamers to compete against (or with) PlayStation 4 and PC gamers. That announcement essentially put the ball in Sony's court to end console segregation in terms of online play, and the good news is Sony seems open to the idea.
"PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002," Sony told GameSpot in a statement. "We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross-platform play."
Therein lies the caveat—just because Microsoft has opened the door to cross-platform play between Xbox One, PS4, and PC players doesn't automatically mean all new games will support the feature. It's up to developers take advantage of the opportunity. However, it sounds like Sony won't stand in their way.
Though Sony didn't come right out and say it will embrace pitting Xbox One and PS4 gamers against (or with) one another when asked directly about working with Microsoft, reading between the lines it sounds as though Sony is wiling to play ball. When exactly this might happen remains to be seen.
For Microsoft's part, it isn't dragging its feet. When announcing cross-network support, Microsoft also stated that Psyonix's Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-platform play between Xbox One and PC gamers. That's especially great news for PC players, who are already enjoying cross-platform play with PS4 gamers.
The next step would be to allow for cross-platform play between Xbox One and PS4 players, though no such announcement has been made.
"PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002," Sony told GameSpot in a statement. "We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross-platform play."
Therein lies the caveat—just because Microsoft has opened the door to cross-platform play between Xbox One, PS4, and PC players doesn't automatically mean all new games will support the feature. It's up to developers take advantage of the opportunity. However, it sounds like Sony won't stand in their way.
Though Sony didn't come right out and say it will embrace pitting Xbox One and PS4 gamers against (or with) one another when asked directly about working with Microsoft, reading between the lines it sounds as though Sony is wiling to play ball. When exactly this might happen remains to be seen.
For Microsoft's part, it isn't dragging its feet. When announcing cross-network support, Microsoft also stated that Psyonix's Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-platform play between Xbox One and PC gamers. That's especially great news for PC players, who are already enjoying cross-platform play with PS4 gamers.
The next step would be to allow for cross-platform play between Xbox One and PS4 players, though no such announcement has been made.
