Sony Won't Rule Out Cross-Network Play in the Future

IGN

"In an interview with IGN ME, we asked Sony’s Global Sales and Marketing head, Jim Ryan, on where Sony stands on allowing people on different consoles to play together."

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Overwatch and Titanfall 2 cross network play...

Let them fight!

[NewMonday]

first MS should ban the vocal public hate group headed by the infamous Tim Dog(actual stalker), Crapgamer ..etc, these guys cross the line and inspire the worst in the Xbox community.

until that happens Sony must not even consider it

[freshslicepizza]

interesting how now all of the sudden sony finds itself backpeddling and dodging on what many gamers and developers would like to implement. and let's not have consumers also act evasive such as yourself, the people at rocket league are the ones who are ready and letting rhe public know it's sony who they are waiting on.

[NewMonday]

@moldybread
PS4 online games have many players online and no trouble finding matches, not missing out on anything so we don't care.

sucks to be on the dead XBox online community though, don't blame them for begging to join a bigger league

[Xavior_Reigns]

I find it funny they hated MS moving to PC again and suddenly... "win10 family baby!!" LOL!

[uptownsoul]

I find it so interesting that the people who want to put pressure on Sony to do cross-console play were 100% silent for all of last generation with Microsoft. I mean Microsoft even lost out on games last gen because they refused cross-network play, still no complaints.

Whatever it takes to make Sony the "bad guy"

[gangsta_red]

Already setting up the excuses just in case Sony doesn't go ahead with the cross platform gameplay?

[uptownsoul]

@gangsta_red - "Already setting up the excuses just in case Sony doesn't go ahead with the cross platform gameplay?"

Answer: No, Just looking for consistency: If you didn't have a problem last generation with companies refusing cross-network play, don't claim its a deal breaker now

[gangsta_red]

@uptown

I find it equelly interesting that the people who celebrated a company's willingness for cross platform last gen are now quick to make excuses for them if they reject it. Consistency indeed.

[TheUndertaker85]

@uptownsoul: Yet Sony allowed cross play with Portal 2. It was highlighted that MS wasn't open to cross play. Now they are and multiple games on Xbox One are releasing with it. Suddenly Sony isn't open to the idea.

What part of that is consistent? Games like LBP 3 could have allowed it within the Sony ecosystem yet Sony hasn't done so. The last title Sony did so with was Playstation All-Stars.

[Pongwater]

I don't see the point of crossplay now that XBL will soon include mouse and keyboard players. Let the XB console fans "enjoy" that on their own.

[freshslicepizza]

@uptownsoul
"I find it so interesting that the people who want to put pressure on Sony to do cross-console play were 100% silent for all of last generation with Microsoft. I mean Microsoft even lost out on games last gen because they refused cross-network play, still no complaints."

well unless you can name names this comment doesn't mean much. microsoft was crticized for games like final fantasy and not being open to their servers. they were also crticized heavily for charging online in the first place. but that was then and this is now and i dont get why some of you are now using microsoft as a shield to defend sony's inactivity on the CURRENT matter.

"Whatever it takes to make Sony the "bad guy"

how, by using microsoft as a scapegoat for the past so that you don't have to put any pressure on sony TODAY? stop being a hypocrite.

@NewMonday
"PS4 online games have many players online and no trouble finding matches, not missing out on anything so we don't care."

maybe the popular games but more players don't hurt. funny how ehen sony was with the pc nobody complained yet people such as yourself are so anti-xbox you are not supportive of larger communities just because.

"sucks to be on the dead XBox online community though, don't blame them for begging to join a bigger league"

i don't play on xbox live, i play on playstation network and i know first hand games like M.A.G. were very hard to find good matches even after a couple of months. same with socom 4, it was hard to get certain modes going and the game wasn't even very old. you know your argument is weak at best jjst because you will support any decision sony makes.

[uptownsoul]

@moldybread - "well unless you can name names this comment doesn't mean much."

Here is the link to the game Xbox missed out on (and if your read the 1st sentence of the 3rd paragraph it says: "Specifically, Microsoft refuses to allow titles to share multiplayer servers between other platforms.") http://www.rpgsite.net/news...

So again I say, Microsoft's refusal of cross-platform resulted in missing software...Yet NO complaints or pressure on Microsoft

Sony's POSSIBILE refusal of cross-platform results in NO missing software...Yet there should be complaints and/or pressure???

[uptownsoul]

@gangsta_red -- I didn't complain last gen when Microsoft's policy of no cross-platform play resulted in 360 missing software***. And I'm not complaining now (especially since PlayStation is NOT missing out on any software because of no cross-platform)

Can't get more consistent than that

***Here is the link to a game Xbox missed out on (and if your read the 1st sentence of the 3rd paragraph it says: "Specifically, Microsoft refuses to allow titles to share multiplayer servers between other platforms.") http://www.rpgsite.net/news...

[freshslicepizza]

@uptownsoul
" I mean Microsoft even lost out on games last gen because they refused cross-network play, still no complaints".

i dug this up and some people did call out microsoft for it then,

http://n4g.com/news/1306591...

so i am not sure what your point is. find any article about microsoft refusal to allow cross play in the past and you will find comments about ms and their policies. the ball is now in sony's court so stop trying to evade the current situation.

[uptownsoul]

@moldybread - "i dug this up and some people did call out microsoft for it then..."

Okay, and those "some people" are consistent when calling Sony out. But again, FOR THE 3RD TIME...If you DID NOT call out Microsoft last generation don't claim its a big deal now

And I'm not evading anything because IF Sony says no, PlayStation doesn't loose out on any software or anything. (That is unless you can tell me what PlayStation looses if Sony says no???)

[freshslicepizza]

@uptownsoul
"Okay, and those "some people" are consistent when calling Sony out. But again, FOR THE 3RD TIME...If you DID NOT call out Microsoft last generation don't claim its a big deal now"

this is a feature many gamers want, it isn't about who pointed fingers years ago. people liked the idea back then and they like it now. microsoft was the one to blame back then, so why would sony choose to go backwards now and what benefit to you as a consumer would that do? many playstation fans liked the idea of cross play with the pc, what's the problem now? many playstation fans pointed to microsoft for their restricted policies but now you think it's ok that sony now goes backwards?

"And I'm not evading anything because IF Sony says no, PlayStation doesn't loose out on any software or anything. (That is unless you can tell me what PlayStation looses if Sony says no???)"

you work for sony? if not then act like a consumer because as a consumer this feels like a good move all around.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Monday Wtf are you a spokesperson for Sony and do you speak for every single PS gamer? No you don't you're making excuses for Sony and deflecting super hard and ummmm the Xbox community is actually thriving (Good god oh mighty some ppl). Sony should allow this for longevity for MP games and hey even devs will see a huge increase in DLC sales so everybody wins. Not only that but I can see a small reduction in fanboy flame wars because each camp will socket it out from dusk till dawn in online games. But to be perfectly realistic allot of ppl will get along and playing casually with one another no wars just fun and games. But as I said there will be THAT part of the internet however....

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Look just because Microsoft is losing now they want all games to play nice together regardless of platform if they were moving units like Sony they wouldn't want this or even have gone with releasing xbox games on pc Sony dosent need cross platform play at all so they can choose not to have it simple as that. Sorry you bet on a losing horse with xbox one that's your fault not sonys. You xbox one gamers have fun with your xbox 360 games. I will have fun playing new games without the toxic xbox community (to be fair alot of them jumped ship to ps4 so the psn community has gotten vile lately) I love how xbox gamers only have a problem with something when their ship starts sinking.

[NewMonday]

why are we even debating this? MS never formally requested access to PSN players, just hot air FUD

[TheCommentator]

There's only one important takeaway from all of this nonsense you guys are all arguing about:

MS used to be closed to the idea of crossplay when they were winning the "console war" last gen, and now that Sony is winning it's them who are being stubborn about it. Both companies are arrogant when they are winning.

[NewMonday]

@shloobmm3

Tim Dog is a stalker, he promotes Crapgamer, Mooch..etc and they are unapologetically racist. he chases down Sony managers like Shu and heckles them, also stakes out game stores for hours in his car to see how many by XBox, I'm not making any of this up, crazy $#!t is for real, making excuses for them is why PSN must stay off limits.

[freshslicepizza]

@NewMonday

the makers of rocket league have come out and said they are waiting on sony but other than that they are ready to go. so you can evade, sidetrack and ignore the facts all you want just because you seem to have issues putting sony on the spotlight but facts are facts. not once has sony EVER said they are willing to cross platform with other consoles. even nintendo said it's ok,

http://www.polygon.com/2013...

"...They said, 'Yep, no problem. You can have other console players playing against Wii U players. You can have smartphone players play against them. No problem,'" Gaskell told Eurogamer. "We're still talking to Sony about them relaxing their policies, but we don't think they'll have any issue with it. So when we launch Pure Chess, you'll be able to play against Wii U, 3DS, iOS and Android players. And when we patch PlayStation, those consoles will be added to the mix as well."

has it happened yet?

[NewMonday]

@moldybread

only one sidetracking here is you, you never respond directly to the point and just divert, means you lost the discussion but don't have the grace to admit it.

owned!

[xMANB3ARP1G]

A

[SaveFerris]

If Sony agrees, I think it will be limited to certain titles. But it is possible Sony may choose not to allow cross-network play with Xbox, especially if they don't see any benefit to it.

[Cueil]

it's not for them it's for us... especially in games like Neverwinter... there is literally 0 reason not to have cross play on that game

[TheUndertaker85]

The simple fact is there's multiple games that should and could allow it. Co-Op games in particular. Portal 2 allowed PS3 players to play with PC. Microsoft didn't allow it due to their old policies. Now that policy is gone, the door wide open, and Sony wants to back away with no reasoning. Playstation All-Stars allowed PS3 & Vita players to play together. So why weren't titles like LBP 3 made to be cross platform? Would it not be beneficial for PS3 and PS4 players to play together?

Sony wanted to bring cross play to the table last gen then backed away with PS4. There's nothing stopping it but them this time around.

[PhucSeeker]

@TheUndertaker Console owners are not that into mmo games. So in order to keep the player count high, they have to cross-play with pc. But pc don't have a middle network structure like psn or xbox live. Psn-xbox cross-play can create all kind of terms and legal problems that need to be dealt with which would cost a lots. But do Sony/M$ get much out of it ? Quite frankly, no.

[TheUndertaker85]

@PhucSeeker: Sony already took that risk with Portal 2. It allowed PS3 players to play with Steam users or users on PC. At the time they claimed they'd opened the door to Microsoft but Microsoft had policies against it.

Even if that is taken out of the picture Microsoft is selling less and stands to gain less but is opening that door again. Now Sony doesn't want to answer or get involved. The roles are literally reversed from last gen. MS is allowing not only 360 and One players to play together but also players on PC. Then Minecraft namely is taking it further, allowing players on iOS and Android to participate. Meanwhile Sony is killing the practice it already used.

So how is it Microsoft can afford to take the chance while behind, in particular with the iOS and Android ecosystems but Sony who is moving more product can't?

There once was a time where iOS and Xbox Live were the most closed platforms out there. Now it seems to be Sony who brought up consoles not being so closed.

[PhucSeeker]

@TheUndertaker As i said, Pc connects directly to the game server. But xbox and ps have to go through its own networks before connecting to the game server. Cross-play on consoles will create a big legal battle because of that. Sony doesn't want that.

[Kerppamaister]

Sony claimed EA Access isn't good value for the players so I wouldn't count on Sony allowing cross play. But cross play is for the players, something Sony seems to sometimes forget.

[ZaWarudo]

Please do it.

[BrandanT]

Then what's the point of two separate consoles? They're very similar to begin with and now there's going to be the possibility of playing across networks. It's like video games are becoming a trust.

[Nitrowolf2]

I don't see what's wrong with that. It's just cross play, you know like PC and consoles can do it. Plus, this can be very beneficial for devs as games can have a longer life support

The purpose of different consoles have always typically come down to its exclusives.

[freshslicepizza]

how does it impact you negatively? if anything it will make the community even larger which will greatly help on some titles to find people to play with.

[uptownsoul]

Which is a great reason to do it now AND was a great reason to do it last generation (but 1 of companies were adamantly against it last gen & their supporters didn't say a single word)

[thisgamer503]

@uptownsoul

So when one company finally progresses with the idea, it's perfectly fine for the other to regress?

[ninjazfistz]

@uptownsoul We are in a new era where there is little to no difference between the platforms. Both platforms now charge to access online (which is sad). The least these companies could do is remove this barrier if we are paying to access our games multiplayer. It would be an advantage to both platforms to remove barriers. Defending it just because it was done before is immature.

[crazychris4124]

Sounds good to me as long as its an OPTION to play with Xbox and PC gamers and we can set up in game parties. Now I don't care who Im playing against but some people might not want to play with the other platforms.

But if they do go ahead with this then they need to allow us to start parties in game with friends from other platforms. Its annoying to play with friends in Rocket League when Im on PC and they're on the PS4. You can setup private matches or try 100x to join the same public server. Its a nice start but its not good enough.

[Cueil]

of course, there is an option... it's already there for PC/PS4 games

[TXIDarkAvenger]

Meh, just PR talk. I've said it before, Sony has no gain from allowing cross-network this generation.

[uptownsoul]

100% agree...The same way Microsoft had no gain from allowing cross-network last generation (and thus, didn't do it)

[Cueil]

Microsoft was a paid service and PSN wasn't and while this isn't an excuse that works for me it is at least understandable if stupid. This gen they are both on the same playing field and there are 0 reasons to not do this.

edit: the systems were also vastly different in design as well

[gangsta_red]

Problem is sony always said they were willing and ready to allow it to happen. Now all of a sudden there's no gain from it?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Man you guys are corporate slaves weather yall realize it or not. The sad thing is you're a consumer/gamer\ not an engineer for Sony. The benefit is added fun to our favorite games nothing more nothing less.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Based on Ryan's response i hold little hope for Sony to make this a thing for all games. They may make exceptions here and there for Sony to PC play on occasion but doubt it will be console vs console. Its the difference of being a hardware company vs a software OS company. MS is looking to put their OS into as many devices as they can. They are less concerned about selling their hardware as they are having the devices that run their OS being popular, So it can be a Dell device, an MS device, Toshiba, HP, etc... they want them all to sell well. MS is making a gamble that if they just open the ecosystem more and more that eventually you might buy into that via a compatible device at some point. Sony on the other hand is keenly invested in seeing their hardware sell well. They are and need to be committed to making you feel like you need to buy their hardware. There is no grey area here for them. If there hardware is not selling they are not making revenue. So if you want to play with your friends on PSN Sony wants and needs you to buy their hardware. There is a reason we have seen very few cross play compatible PSN and PC games over the years.

[rainslacker]

The response didn't instill a lot of faith in me either. It was pretty evasive to the actual context of the question being asked. It's a more recent response from them, but it's pretty much the same response they had before.

As of right now, the pressure should just be applied by the community for Sony to make it happen, or at least give a definitive answer to avoid endless debate on the topic.

[uptownsoul]

There won't be any pressure applied to Sony now, the same way there wasn't pressure applied to Microsoft last generation.

[rainslacker]

I don't think it was such a big thing last gen as it became this gen. There seems to be more demand for it now.

I'm rather indifferent for my own play time, but it's a feature I'd like to see just because it's a good feature in principal, and ultimately does have a benefit to the actual developers and publishers.

Edit@Gangsta below

evasive and ignore are pretty much the same in the end....just evasive means they ignore it due to reasons of not wanting to answer it.:)

And it's possible that's why. Or maybe he wouldn't be aware of where the plans are with it all if it still exists, and that is just the official company line he has to spread when asked. Willing to wait it out a bit more due to reasons I stated in a topic about it last week, but my hopes for it are dwindling in lieu of some actual confirmation or rumor coming about.

[gangsta_red]

Evasive, it was literally ignored.

I guess we'll soon find out when Psyonix makes their big announcement soon. Maybe this guy ignored it because he couldn't let the cat out of the bag and ruin the surprise coming later.

[dkp23]

If sony decides they wont allow cross console play, it wouldn't matter to them until developers stop developing for ps4 until they are open to it. Odds of this happening? very slim as their install base is two times bigger than xbox's . PS4 doesnt have much benefit to do this other than "doing what is best for gamers". You know that isn't the driving force for any gaming companyh,its $$ and there is nothing wrong with that.

[GOODKylePS]

He completely avoided the question. They asked about cross platform between different companies, not PlayStation machines. Plus, I'm pretty sure Psyonix has already contacted Sony about the cross platform thing if they can set it up within hours. Then the title says "in the future." Why not right now?

[Kiwi66]

Guess they have a reason for it and what occurred last gen was then, this is now so shouldn't people care about what happens this gen instead of living in the past, as why not be be open to it .......... edit , so it looks like people would prefer for it to not happen

[uptownsoul]

I agree 100% Sony is out for themselves...just like Microsoft was last generation

[NatureOfLogic_]

When they say "for the gamers", I don't think they're talking about those who game exclusively on their rival console but I may be wrong. The biggest benefit from this goes to Xbox and It's small pool of online community. Sony has no real reason to support this. Yes the online community in some games would get a small boost but It's mainly benefits MS who is the less common denominator. MS denied Sony last gen for the same reason. I would have loved to play against the larger Xbox community on my PS3 last gen.

[thisgamer503]

So maybe they should change their motto from "for the players" to "for Sony gamers only"

[gangsta_red]

A lot of PR talk and dodging the actual question. He doesn't just skirt around the question he completely barrel rolls around it.

Well, the ball is in Sony's court now. It'll be interesting to see if they put their money where their mouth is.

[uptownsoul]

If Sony says no, nothing will happen. Just like Microsoft's refusal to do cross-network play didn't hurt them for all of last gen & the first couple years of this gen

[gangsta_red]

If sony says no then we will know they were bs'ing when they said last gen they were willing to cross play with the 360 and their ps3.

[NatureOfLogic_]

@gangsta_red

It was smart for Sony to request cross play with Xbox larger community last gen, Just like it's smart for MS to attempt the same thing they denied Sony smaller community last gen.

[zombiewombie]

Didn't Sony try to implement this last gen and MS said no?

[thisgamer503]

I don't understand why any real gamer wouldn't want this. Fanboys can't be reasoned with so obviously they'll defend it tooth and nail but seriously....do people choose their friends based on console preference or something? I personally have many friends with one console or the other. I've bought multiple copies of the same game on both consoles to be able to play with all my friends. A true gamer sees the benefit in this regardless of who did what last gen. Guess what? It's 2016. Let's progress. I could give a shit less who did what last gen. It's this generation NOW. I'm sure you're all grown up enough to realize you can't change the past. Let's get the ball rolling already. /rant over

[ThatGuyDart]

I don't think anyone is actually against the idea. I know a large portion of the gaming community wants cross-play between the consoles but there seems to be a just as large portion who couldn't really care less and therefore won't pressure the situation. Personally I'm in the latter.

[thisgamer503]

I understand feeling no need to pressure the situation. I can commend that. What is atrocious is how many people are pulling the "MS did it last gen, so Sony can do it this gen." People forget these companies are in this for the money, not you personally. Gamers should want what is best for gamers and put their bias aside when it comes to these more progressive ideas.

[dkp23]

i wonder when this interviewed happened and if they asked them about what the developers of rocket league said about cross platform ready once Sony says ok. If they had a chance to ask that and didnt, well...

[gamertk421]

Good Guy Sony. SMH.

[SSjDomon]

This should have been the norm a decade ago.

[j15reed]

Sony's never going to do this they're just stringing everybody along.....

[feraldrgn]

There's an audience that buys their consoles based on what their friends own so they can play with them.
By making crossplay possible between platforms, then you throw that away.

Microsoft knows this & that's why they made the offer to Sony, because they're not winning so they can muddy the waters.
This is an age old MS tactic when they can't beat the competition.

[thisgamer503]

So I suppose this was Sony's age old tactic when they tried it last gen?

[feraldrgn]

I never read about Sony allowing cross platform play with Xbox360, unless you mean within their own Playstation ecosystem, which is different to this.

Edit. if Iceman's correct then I was wrong, I guess they did with FF11?

[BigGamersSmallTalk]

Sony's "4ThePlayers" slogan was just that. They said no to EA Access, Backward compatibility, Cross-network play, tried to patent the word "Let's Play" and more. Eventually people will wake up and see that they've done NOTHING to be in the spot they're in, aside from pulling out of doing DRM and unpacking a camera that was going to be in every PS4.

The PS4 still can't do simple things like let us change out name on PSN, or offer folders.....

[Iceman X]

Sony started cross platform play with Final Fantasy 11 which was out about 14 years ago. FF11 was started on PS2/PC, then MAC/PS3 and even X360 got it a few years later. All on the same servers. FF11 release in 2002 cross play was there from day 1.