The gaming industry is a highly competitive field. This is demonstrated in the way game exclusives figure prominently in the way consoles are marketed. This particular aspect, however, is bound to change as Microsoft announced that it is clearing the way for the possibility of Xbox gamers to play with their counterparts in other gaming devices such as the PlayStation 4 and the PC platforms.
Microsoft's announcement came during the Game Developers Conference, which started in San Francisco Tuesday. The official word is that developers are now allowed to create cross-platform games, which also include other consoles.
Reports claim that Psyonix, the team behind the first game to debut in the cross-platform initiative this spring, is a major player that drove Microsoft's change of heart. "We were prodding everyone all the time," said Jeremy Dunham, Psyonix's vice president. "Just the fact that we know at the very least that we can give that to them on the PC front ... is pretty great news, and we were really happy about it."
Psyonix is in a unique position to influence Microsoft and even Sony. Its Rocket League game is massively popular, and it is reportedly built as a cross-platform game. Psyonix, therefore, does not only appear to have leverage, but its game is also responsible for clearing significant roadblocks to cross-platform play. There is, for instance, the problem that could arise in the way gamers use online services that compete against each other. The risk that people or even console manufacturers could harm the gaming experience of users from other platform could emerge.
"The good news about Rocket League is that we're set up to either handle or prevent a lot of the concerns that a lot of the publishers usually have," Dunham said.
Cross-platform play is not entirely new, as the concept has already been introduced in the past. For instance, there are multiplayer games in their different platform versions that work together. Some mobile games allow users of Android and iOS devices to play together. Even Microsoft has already allowed this once when Square Enix was permitted to connect Xbox 360 gamers with PC and PS2 users for "Final Fantasy XI."
With the cross-platform project, Microsoft stands to gain from being the first to initiate the breaking of barriers that divide Xbox, Playstation and Wii U gamers. Some industry observers tout the move as miracle as it is considered impossible even today. Indeed, the realization of cross-platform play will still rely on the agreement of other console makers such as Sony and Nintendo.
"Of course, it's up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players," Chris Charla from ID@Xbox said.
Gaming fans are waiting with bated breath for the next developments.
