In an unprecedented move, Microsoft announced Monday that its opening up its network gaming capabilities, allowing developers to make their Xbox One and Windows 10 games support cross-platform play with other "online multiplayer networks."
This move may mark the start of an era when all platforms can freely connect to one another online, namely Xbox and PlayStation, and subsequently put an end to another when the only times their respective communities could duke it out was in an online forum to determine which console is superior.
The news was revealed in an announcement by Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox, who said, "it's up to game developers to support this feature" and noted that players will "always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players."
"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," Charla explained. "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."
The caveat is that developers, as well as Sony, have to agree to cooperate. So even if Sony chooses to cooperate and make PSN open to cross-platform play, each game would need to be made to match - and of course, it would be at the developers' discretion. Therefore, the dream of matchmaking in "Call of Duty" or "Destiny" being open across all platforms may never come to fruition.
The first game to support cross-platform play will be Psyonix's "Rocket League." Jeremy Dunham in blog post of his own said, "Cross-network play has been the number-one most requested feature our community has asked for since 'Rocket League' was first announced on Xbox One, and now that we are able to pursue complete online unity on all platforms, today's announcement is a dream come true."
Not only will the move allow Xbox One players to play against those on the PS4 (if Sony agrees to it), but it automatically opens up functionality between Xbox One and PC to play against one another - an ability that the game lacked at the time. In that vein, PC players get the best deal since they could already play with PS4 owners.
Though this option is a guarantee for all future Xbox One games, gamers will have the option to only play against other Xbox Live players.
This development now gives PlayStation fans, who are already expecting an announcement concerning the upcoming PlayStation VR, something else to look forward to at GDC this week.
