Xbox VP Says Cross-Play ‘Isn’t Going Away’

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Cross-platform play is an increasingly hot topic in video games lately, and now Xbox and Windows VP Mike Ybarra is returning to the fray to encourage the topic to stay hot. Ybarra responded on Twitter to an editorial criticizing Sony for avoiding PlayStation 4 and Xbox One cross-play. Ybarra supplemented the argument with insight from Microsoft’s own research regarding market demand for cross-play. His final thought is particularly pointed: “This isn’t going away.”

Ybarra’s tweet references Microsoft’s data, which he says supports the idea that more people want cross-play:

“Our data shows people want larger multiplayer pools of people to play with and the choice to play together. This isn’t going away.”


The first part of Ybarra’s tweet is intuitive. Of course most players want larger pools of people to play with in multiplayer. More people results in faster matchmaking, more vibrant communities, more content from developers, and myriad other benefits.

The second part of Ybarra’s tweet is more ambiguous. “The choice to play together,” is a very political approach to cross-play. It’s the fine print acknowledging that there are players who may not want cross-play enabled in their games, whether due to balance or other worries. But Microsoft’s done the work in this regard already. Xbox implemented cross-play in games including Gears of War 4 with the choice to opt out. Overall, it’s a very PR friendly way of positioning the move for cross-play between consoles.


Sony is so far weathering the storm regarding the cry for enabling cross-play between consoles, but the storm is only growing bigger. Microsoft enabling cross-play between PC and Xbox for Microsoft-published titles is one thing. But now third-party games like Rocket League are joining in on the fun, with others including Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds considering cross-play as well, and Minecraft cross-play will soon work on mobile devices. Even beyond that, the Nintendo Switch is joining in on the cross-play action with Xbox. Cross-play is spreading fast.

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://gamerant.com/xbox-cross-play-not-going-away/

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"Xbox VP Says Cross-Play ‘Isn’t Going Away’" :: Login/Create an Account :: 14 comments

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CraigPosted:

Maybe console vs console. BUt bring PC into the mix on a FPS game and you will see some very angry people.

k3rryPosted:

Would hate to see this idea go away, glad to see it's still up for Sony, would be awesome to join parties and play other games with everyone, would be very good for the gaming community. Only downside I can see is having a hard choice between consoles but that could also be decided with exclusives.

SpartanPosted:

Mickers It's a great idea is cross-play. Can't see why Sony are holding back.

Last I read about their opinion on it was that they didn't feel it would be a secure environment or something like that. They kinda shut down the idea at the time but seemed like it was still up for debate. Hopefully Microsoft encouraging a push well push people to push Sony. Let's just push everyone while we're at it!

uwuPosted:

I don't see why Sony's such a big opponent of cross-platform play. It'd make online play so much more dynamic.

DanielPosted:

This would be an amazing feature and a big one at that, Sony are just standing in the way making problems for no apparent reason.

SupervisorPosted:

I just don't understand why Sony wont do it

MickersPosted:

It's a great idea is cross-play. Can't see why Sony are holding back.

FibrilPosted:

Yeah PSN should go with it already. If they're scared about other players make a disclaimer or something about PSN has no control over what players you'll meet.

9ntyPosted:

Cross-Play is one of the biggest feature on gaming consoles, it would be a shame if PSN declined that feature for PS4. It would be so cool on PS4 mind you.

ZydrinPosted:

Good I would love to see Sony put down their differences and allow cross platform play. That'd be amazing for the new CoD game and competitive.


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