Microsoft: "We're Ready" for Xbox One-PS4 Cross-Play

[Lizzy Finnegan]

Microsoft: "We're Ready" for Xbox One-PS4 Cross-Play

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"We've done our bit and we welcome anyone who wants to take part."

Last month [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/166838-Microsoft-Cross-Platform-Could-Link-PS4-and-Xbox-One] Microsoft announced its cross-platform initiative, that aims not only to link Xbox Live with PC but also "other console networks." Microsoft explained that this is an option being offered to developers, who would have to code it into the games themselves, with the "ok" of the "other console networks."

"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," Microsoft explained at the time. "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 console and PC networks."

In a recent interview with Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-08-microsoft-on-cross-network-play-xbox-one-dev-kits-and-more], ID@Xbox Europe boss Agostino Simonetta was asked if the technology for cross-play between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 was in place, to which he responded: "Absolutely--we're ready. Rocket League is the first game--and it is a heavily network-orientated game."

"But yes, any title that wants to update their game to include cross-network play, any title that wants to launch soon and take advantage of that, we are ready," he continued. "As far as we're concerned - we've made the announcement and we're ready - whoever wants to get on board. It remains an open invitation to any network that wants to do the same."

"We can only say: we're ready. We've done our bit and we welcome anyone who wants to take part."


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[Bob_McMillan]

Is there something wrong with whatever program you use to write/format this, because there seems to be some duplication in the text.

Anyway, I find it funny that they constantly say "other console networks" when the only other console network is Playstation. The WiiU has like 3 cross-platform games, so it's pointless to have cross-play with them.

And while I totally support Xbox-Playstation multiplayer, not so sure about PC, especially for competitive shooters. As someone who has just recently started playing BF4 on PC, I can say that the average PC player will wipe the floor with the average console player. Sure, for a game like Rocket League it's fine as well as fighting games, but shooters are probably 70% of all multiplayer games.

 

[Fappy]

Would have been nice to have cross-platform play for Dark Souls 3. Imagine how much longevity the multiplayer would have if the entire community was playing together. Then again, PC is 60fps and the consoles are 30, so there's a big discrepancy there.

 

[Deshin]

ID@Xbox Europe boss Agostino Simonetta was asked if the technology for cross-play between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 was in place, to which he responded:

Final Fantasy XI was an MMO that allowed crossplay for the PS2, Xbox360, and PC all at the same time. No shit the technology is there, it's been there from the very beginning. Lack of technology has never been a factor in disallowing crossplay, only lack of foresight (designing from the ground up for X network) and corporate interest in keeping things exclusive.

 

[WildFire15]

Is there something wrong with whatever program you use to write/format this, because there seems to be some duplication in the text.

Anyway, I find it funny that they constantly say "other console networks" when the only other console network is Playstation. The WiiU has like 3 cross-platform games, so it's pointless to have cross-play with them.

And while I totally support Xbox-Playstation multiplayer, not so sure about PC, especially for competitive shooters. As someone who has just recently started playing BF4 on PC, I can say that the average PC player will wipe the floor with the average console player. Sure, for a game like Rocket League it's fine as well as fighting games, but shooters are probably 70% of all multiplayer games.

That doesn't mean things won't change in future with the NX, so why shouldn't that that particular door be left open?

Hopefully when developers program cross-play support they'll be sensible enough to include options for which systems you want to play with and have ways of identifying who's playing on what system in-game, though it's less likely to be a completely one sided mess then you think as, for example, someone with a regular controller can beat someone with a wheel in a racing game. Serious competitions will likely restrict to platform to ensure a fully level playing field.

 

[Eternal Visitor]

considering it's possible, and in more then a few cases preferable, to use an Xbox controller (or any Xinput device really) when playing some windows games, how hard would it be to make that a requirement for PC/Xbox cross play?

wouldn't solve the hardware speed gap, but it would take care of input differences.

past that, it's not a bad idea, with so many titles now expected to come out for all platforms, all keeping the multiplayer networks separate does is annoy people.

just my $0.05

 

[Porkfest]

I think I have played a couple of games that locked out the normal (mouse/kb) controls while a gamepad was attached. That said, PC players happen to be a bit of an unruly bunch and they'd exploit every loophole to gain every possible advantage, so any "requirement" would be circumvented - they surely have the platform to achieve it.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

"As far as we're concerned - we've made the announcement and we're ready - whoever wants to get on board. It remains an open invitation to any network that wants to do the same."

"We can only say: we're ready. We've done our bit and we welcome anyone who wants to take part."

You can really feel Microsoft staring holes in the back of Sony's head, while Sony continues to ignore them and count their money.

I'm excited for something like this more for co-op games like Dying Light, Borderlands, and other titles like them. It would be pretty great to not pick a console based on whatever my friends are going to get. I didn't really want an Xbox One (at first, I like it just fine now) but I ended up with one because it was either that or I don't play any co-op games with my friends anymore.

 

[nickpy]

considering it's possible, and in more then a few cases preferable, to use an Xbox controller (or any Xinput device really) when playing some windows games, how hard would it be to make that a requirement for PC/Xbox cross play?

Because you'll take my M&K from my cold, dead hands. That's why.

Honestly, I've never understood the "love" for gamepads... they're not awful, no, but they're also always a compromise because they have to "work ok" for all games but consequently can never be perfect for any. The only games I've ever felt are best played with a controller are those which switch between multiple different paradigms of play (e.g. GTA, Driver: SF), and hence where a compromise makes sense, because gameplay changes so drastically and so frequently that a more specialised controller wouldn't work. For any other game, there is always something better, at least in my experience. Driving games? Wheel. FPS, RTS? M&K. Space Sim? Joystick.

 

[Eternal Visitor]

considering it's possible, and in more then a few cases preferable, to use an Xbox controller (or any Xinput device really) when playing some windows games, how hard would it be to make that a requirement for PC/Xbox cross play?

Because you'll take my M&K from my cold, dead hands. That's why.

Honestly, I've never understood the "love" for gamepads... they're not awful, no, but they're also always a compromise because they have to "work ok" for all games but consequently can never be perfect for any. The only games I've ever felt are best played with a controller are those which switch between multiple different paradigms of play (e.g. GTA, Driver: SF), and hence where a compromise makes sense, because gameplay changes so drastically and so frequently that a more specialised controller wouldn't work. For any other game, there is always something better, at least in my experience. Driving games? Wheel. FPS, RTS? M&K. Space Sim? Joystick.

I think most of it is PC getting lazy Xbox ports, it's just easier to leave the controller stuff in then consider mouse and keyboard.

still, I think it's a touch more reasonable for PC users to pick up a gamepad then for console users to plug in a mouse and keyboard.

 

[nickpy]

I think most of it is PC getting lazy Xbox ports, it's just easier to leave the controller stuff in then consider mouse and keyboard.

still, I think it's a touch more reasonable for PC users to pick up a gamepad then for console users to plug in a mouse and keyboard.

On the first point, that doesn't make the controller the superior input option, it just means the port is lazy making what would otherwise be the superior input option untenable.
On the second, I agree. I would never expect a console player to use M&K, as that is unreasonable both practically and socially in the "living room space".

 

[Setch Dreskar]

Would have been nice to have this for ESO, where both Xbox and Sony through a fit and went home with their toys instead of allowing the consoles to cross platform play with each other. Maybe this is a sign of at least Xbox changing with their recent shake ups and not doing nearly as well as Sony but who knows at this point.

 

[List]

This seems like a hard thing for Sony to decide on.
Xbox wants cross play to have more players in their games. Xbox wants there to be cross play with PS because Sony has the majority of the player base. And MS is making it out to make Sony look bad. But their ulterior motive is as clear as day.

 

[fix-the-spade]

As someone who has just recently started playing BF4 on PC, I can say that the average PC player will wipe the floor with the average console player.

Yup, this is exactly what happened in the past with console-PC cross play.

Shadowrun 2007 famously tried it and PC players smashed console players to the point of making the game unplayable on the console, even when the developers started trying to 're-balance' things back towards console controls the situation didn't improve.

PC gamers generally being older, using Mouse/Keyboard and having access to third party software like Teamspeak massively unbalances shooters in their favour. But for MMOs, sports games and party games cross play sounds enormously promising.

For Microsoft's part this is just more of their Win 10 push. Given how 'seriously' they've taken gaming with their App store I'm not expecting this to be terribly well implemented. If they were truly serious about it they'd have it working on Win 7 and 8 too.

 

[Skops]

This seems like a hard thing for Sony to decide on.
Xbox wants cross play to have more players in their games. Xbox wants there to be cross play with PS because Sony has the majority of the player base. And MS is making it out to make Sony look bad. But their ulterior motive is as clear as day.

This was my thought as well. This just feels like a giant PR stunt that they save face no matter what Sony decides. They say `yes`, MS is the pioneer of bringing console gamers together. Sony says "no", MS turns around smugly and says "well, look whose for the players now?"

 

[Veylon]

They say `yes`, MS is the pioneer of bringing console gamers together.

Assuming they can pull it off. How many games are there that allow XBox/PC cross-platform play when Microsoft already owns both ends?

 

[Zendariel]

considering it's possible, and in more then a few cases preferable, to use an Xbox controller (or any Xinput device really) when playing some windows games, how hard would it be to make that a requirement for PC/Xbox cross play?

Because you'll take my M&K from my cold, dead hands. That's why.

Honestly, I've never understood the "love" for gamepads... they're not awful, no, but they're also always a compromise because they have to "work ok" for all games but consequently can never be perfect for any. The only games I've ever felt are best played with a controller are those which switch between multiple different paradigms of play (e.g. GTA, Driver: SF), and hence where a compromise makes sense, because gameplay changes so drastically and so frequently that a more specialised controller wouldn't work. For any other game, there is always something better, at least in my experience. Driving games? Wheel. FPS, RTS? M&K. Space Sim? Joystick.

There are a few genres where at least I would take the gamepad over any other control method I've tried. At least the following, Games that focus on platforming, both 2D and 3D, 2D platformers because the controllers are usually quite comfortable and d-pad is easier to use in those than wasd or arrows when combined with running and walljumping and what not. 3D platformers allow greater control because of the analog movement. And most action games that don't use shooting or use autotargeting are generally easier to play with gamepads.

OT: cross play would be great, don't know if it would happen but here's hoping.