Microsoft breaks ground with fully cross-platform gaming

2 min. read

Published onMarch 19, 2016

published onMarch 19, 2016

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Gamers have been wanting to play games cross-console for a long time now. With the recent climate of gaming more and more frequently supporting cross-play between console and PC (the most notable recent example being Rocket League’s partnership with PS4) gamers have been scratching their head wondering why PC had to be the limit. After a long while,Microsoft has finally decidedthat it’s time to open the floodgates and start letting gamers enjoy an open, cross-console community.

The first game that’s going to be supporting this open network play isgoing to be Rocket League, the same game that broke open network barriers with PS4 and PC. The update that’s going to bring this change is going to be arriving later this Spring (no specific date yet) and should revolutionize not only the experience of Rocket League players but the experience of all gamers going forward. Microsoft’s decision to open up Xbox Live’s network opens a world of possibilities for developers going forward, should they choose to support this feature.

Assuming developers in the future build their games with this feature in mind, games like The Division and Destiny may not have to have their communities split anymore. Gamers on PS4, Xbox One, and PC will all be able to come together to enjoy the games they love with one another – a dream come true for a community of hobbyists who continue to embrace one another, creating demand for more and more games that require cooperative play and massively multiplayer components.

This being said, Microsoft made it clear in their blog post regarding GDC: “it’s up to game developers to support this feature.” It may take a while for developers to get to a point where they’re comfortable, or even able, to make use of Microsoft’s newfound desire to bring all gamers together. With any luck, this transition in the nature of multiplayer gaming can go smoothly, and the gaming community will recognize immediately what a difference it makes to their ability to make use of cooperative and competitive experiences.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft breaks ground with fully cross-platform gaming#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft breaks ground with fully cross-platform gaming