In an era where cross-play and cross-platform titles have become a huge success, Sony has avoided allowing such experiences outside of PC and Mobile devices. Today, the companies tune has changed as they reveal their commitment to offering the best gaming experience possible – starting with Fortnite.
Earlier this year an anomaly happened when somehow a switch got flipped and somewhere, somehow, Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4 users were playing the mega-successful Battle Royale title from Epic Games known as Fortnite. As a center of both controversy and staggering success, Fortnite has been a major push on cross-platform compatibility, creating a community larger than almost any in the world all-the-while constantly seeing that their game continually evolves with every season.
Now, in an official statement made on the PlayStation Blog (you can read the full statement here), Sony Interactive Entertainment has finally opened up about supporting cross-platform features for select third-party titles. They’ve even taken the time to think it over – even though we’re sure the pressure from the fans and media added up to this – and find a way to properly implement such features into some of these titles.
As you may have guessed, Epic Games and Sony are flipping the switch once again, allowing the open beta for Fortnite to begin with cross-platform features, progression, and even commerce (the skins you bought, etc) to carry over between PlayStation 4, Android, iOs, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC and Mac via Epic Games’ launcher, to commence starting now.
Sony has confirmed – at this time – that the current beta is a mindful testing of the user experience in both technical and social perspectives. They are finally ready to see how the other platforms integrate with PlayStation 4 users while also ensuring that this transition runs smoothly, effectively and benefits all involved.
“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. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.
This represents a major policy change for SIE, and we are now in the planning process across the organization to support this change. We will update the community once we have more details to share, including more specifics regarding the beta timeframe, and what this means for other titles going forward,” states Sony’s very own John Koder, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
While the news is a welcome sight to many, there are still a lot of questions fans may have for Sony. Some of our own include the idea of what other games do they have in mind, will the selection process expand over time and could we very well see the divide between players close as social apps such as Discord get implemented into current gen consoles?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
About the Writer(s):
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook.