Sony’s Reluctance On Cross-Play With Xbox Is A Choice, Says Dev

"If it is not something temporary they must bring something to supply this request of the players," says Void Studios' Luiz Aguena.

[ArchangelMike]

Ofcourse it's a choice, what else would it be? Microsoft is going all-in when it comes to cross platform streaming across multiple devices. So you can go get all you cross play needs over there. I don't understand why we're all voting for homogeneity. I thought diversity, variety and competition were good things in the gaming industry.

[purple101]

I don't think people are ready for, or against it with a major majority, they just know full well that if the tables were turned, Microsoft would not be too happy sharing the cake.

Let's not forget Sony were one of the first with crossplay.. "Eve online" comes to mind.. Back in 2003. Ps3 and pc crossplay. When no one else would allow it!!! (for fear of canablising game sales)

To finish, Microsoft is pretty much in a bad way. they tried well with their first console, the second, the 360, kept blowing up and had multiple iterations, everyone who owned one owned 3.(me and my brother included) the third time round with the one, they have not done well at all either, lost the sales war; it wasn't even a close battle.

in truth sony have done a far far better job in all these years and deserves the support they are getting.

[wiz7191]

Maybe i'm in a minority I had my 360 since 2007 never had to buy a new one and it never RROD.. Played it mostly practically all day everyday ,

[RedDevils]

so you one of those 1% that didn't get rrod, proud of you.

[isarai]

I dunno, i don't think it's such a big deal. do i think they should do it? sure, but honestly they don't have anything big to gain from doing so, and with the big PSN hack of 2011 they have good reason to take things slow and cautiously. People also forget that they have always and still do crossplay with PC no problem. It's when it comes to competitors that it makes even less sense to do so, and is where they become more reluctant.

[rainslacker]

I think they should do it mostly so people will shut up about it. Otherwise, sure why not do it for the customers, even if it's a small portion of them that care. If they enable it, then we all win though, because then the subject can die, outside the false narratives about how Sony was late to the party.

They aren't required to do it though. It really went affect their sales next gen, as it's not affecting it this gen. Logically speaking, if there are really only two consoles competing in the same market space, then if one doesn't allow it, then neither really have the feature, and I don't think the madden or COD players are going to care about switch cross play, and publishers already don't care about pc/console cross play

[RedDevils]

I think they should not, Sony gain nothing from it, Microsoft didn't do it with Xbox/Ps3 so why should Sony, Karma is a bitch.

[rainslacker]

I don't think having it available will affect anything whatsoever. It won't help or hurt or help Sony. It won't hurt or help MS. Some customers may like it, but in its current state, it's not going to give them what they want and allow them to play with their friends on other systems, and it's questionable about when that kind of feature may come. It's not going to hurt or help games online last longer. It's not going to help or hurt sales of a game.

Some customers may like it, and thats fine, but ultimately, cross play is going to be under-utilized by developers and publishers, just like it has been since it's been implemented between console and PC. The only reason its such a big thing now is because of how it can be used in the console wars, and if the whole topic would just die, then it'd be a win in my book.

[Platformgamer]

a good one too.
no one seriously give a fuck about it, just stop talking about it

[TK-66]

"no one seriously give a fuck about it, just stop talking about it"

This is on the front page of n4g so obviousuly people care.

[trooper_]

No, it’s only on the front page because the ‘concerned’ folks want it to be a huge deal when it’s not.

[slavish0]

Sad. I hope Sony puts devs and gamers 1st one day

[DrumBeat]

If there's ANYTHING Sony excels at it's giving their devs tools and freedom.

[Mr_Luke]

Oh, ok. No problem with me ;) without counting i prefer single player games. But when i want something multiplayer, i don't have any problems. Lot of people on the PSN.
PS5 won't have crossplay? Ok, still day 1 purchase for me.

[Father__Merrin]

Sony sold over 240k consoles for the week whilst xbox including Da X barely managed 70k. Ps4 is selling this well in its 6th year....Nd its not even reached £199 yet....

If cross play is the measurement for success then xbox can keep it....

[Petebloodyonion]

And how many PS5 did Sony sold this week?
Having sold 100000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000 PS4 doesn't mean that the PS5 will sell day 1.
Let me ask you, why would average Joe purchase a system that prevent you crossplay and backward compatibity (hey let's face it no one here want's BC) to plays X game, when he can buy another system that allows it for the same price?
And before you answer, remembers the fans outcry, in the early 2014, about 900P vs 1080P regarding games like COD.

[rainslacker]

Why would average Joe pick up a console for cross play, if the other console doesn't offer it. It would basically be like both consoles not having it. Sony already had cross play with PC, but it's not like most of the big games offer the feature.

BC is not really a factor for new system sales, and for the time being. We don't know if Sony will include it next gen, so why bring it up? Do you think adding on more speculative lack of features makes your cross play argument stronger? If you really want to say what you are. Why are yo uh giving ms credit for having it next gen? We don't know for sure. And when it comes to cross play, xbox fan boys have made it abundantly clear that this is about console cross play, so can't change that narrative now can we

[Petebloodyonion]

Last I check there's more than one platform out there and there will be even more options in the future.
So yeah Nintendo Switch and their userbase exist, mobile is now part of the equation, you can add upcoming streaming service like Amazon. Sure there's no crossplay reason to purchase 1 console over the other if you love a single player experience but if the 900P vs 1080P debate was such an important deciding factor between Xbox and PS4 then I'm pretty sure that having the option to keep your progress between Xbox and Switch but not on Ps5 could create a similar uproar.

"BC is not really a factor for new system sales" And where did you get this fact?

"when it comes to cross play, xbox fan boys have made it abundantly clear" Sorry nope Sony fan have made it that clear MS want cross play because they are desperate when it's in reality developers that are requesting the feature. I doubt that Epic game is an Xbox fan, what about Psyonix? Heck in every article like this they are talking with a game maker. Quick Question what does MS or Nintendo gain by having you play Fortnite on other platform? Did it translate in more Halo sold? Did you buy a new 60$ game on Switch tks to Fortnite?

[jaycptza]

dude youre like a broken record, keep quiet

[trooper_]

Why are you talking about the PS5 WHEN ITS NOT EVEN OUT YET?

Okay, I’ll fancy you.

When the PS5 comes, people will buy it for one thing only.

NEW QUALITY GAMES.

Not old games you can play on older consoles.

[Petebloodyonion]

@Trooper
"Why are you talking about the PS5 WHEN IT'S NOT EVEN OUT YET?"

Because I do take time to read an article before commenting it.
"we interviewed Luiz Aguena, CEO of Void Studios and lead developer on their recently released RPG Eternity: The Last Unicorn, and we asked him about his thoughts on whether he thinks cross-platform play will be a defining feature of the upcoming console generation."

As for your second answer, I sincerely hope that people buy a console due to good games available no matter the console maker (thus why I waited 1 year after release before buying my Xbox 1 and Ps4).

[rainslacker]

There is more than one platform out there. But PS and Xbox share the more common MP games which we are likely to play. People aren't going to worry about cross play for games that can also run on Switch. Fortnite and Minecraft may be one exception, but neither of those games are going to be system sellers directly.

Sony has cross play with PC, so for bigger games people are going to care about, Sony not having cross play, is essentially making it so it doesn't matter if MS has it or not. It will allow MS to have a nice marketing blurb for selling the system, but if people really look into it, they're going to find it's not going to matter that much.

[kayoss]

of course its a choice..

[travestyj]

Who the hell is Void Studios and why does this guy's opinion on crossplay even matter? His Unicorn game looks like it's from last gen and it appears to be single player. Might as well ask Bob from accounting his opinion as well and write am article about.

[RememberThe357]

Gamingbolt. They're shills.

[rainslacker]

Gamingbolt likes to ask these kinds of questions to every dev so they can make their clickbait headlines. Even if the dev really has no stake in the discussion. Ever notice that we know about what these dev's feel about the policies of ms or Sony, than we ever do about their games? You'd think these indie dev's would realize this, but I guess if they can get a few extra sales, while gamingbolt probably makes more money off the interview than the dev gains from it, then whatever.

[Petebloodyonion]

First and foremost, the article is about cross-play in regards to the NEXT GENERATION of console. NOT about PS4.

Now with this point of view in mind, the devs is making lots of sense when he says "It’s a choice and if it is not something temporary they must bring something to supply this request of the players,”.

1) with Epic store challenging Steam on PC with cheaper fees, free usage of the UT engine, etc. It's becoming clearer that the next generation competition will be more ferocious in term of bringing 3rd party game into signing exclusivity or having a game made on (PS5, PC, Xbox2) instead of the port.

2) Remember when XBOX 1 got released? the talk wasn't about how great Ryse looked! It was about always online, DRM, and 900P vs 1080P for games like COD, assassin's Creed, Farcry 4, etc.
Now let's fast forward to the release date of ps5 and Xbox2 where we learn that Sony is still against Cross-play and still don't see a point in allowing Backward compatibility. Why would I want to buy a PS5? (unless I'm a Diehard fans who wants to buy a PS5)

So yeah, if Sony persist into not allowing cross-play they will need to offer something different to entice gamers into buying the ps5 (cheaper price, exclusive, etc.) and they will need something to entice devlopers into making the PS5 versions 1st instead of PC or Xbox ( cheaper fees, free dev kit, etc.).

[Silly gameAr]

Cross-play is not going to influence anyone's choice to not buy a PS5. I can't wait until next gen, when reality stirkes these people living in their own little world...again.

btw, Sony isn't against cross-play. They've had cross-play enabled for 10 years. MS and ninty are the ones that have to play catch up.

[Petebloodyonion]

"Cross-play is not going to influence anyone's choice to not buy a PS5"
So why accepting Cross-play for Fortnite then? Let's be honest here if this decision is not gonna influence people and Sony isn't making more money due to it (they are not) well, it's one of the stupidest decision business wise.

[trooper_]

People will buy the PS5 for the same reasons they bought a PS4.

NEW- QUALITY - GAMES.

You literally sound like a broken record.

[Petebloodyonion]

Like I said to you in another post: I sincerely hope that it's the case (no matter the console maker).
But I don't recall Xbox1 and PS4 having some killer exclusives at launch.
In fact, COD and Fifa14 were the best sellers on both consoles at the time.
But I do recall the Ps4 being cheaper, having 1080P instead of 900P etc.

So perhaps Cross-play won't be a factor into purchasing a console or making a dev chose Sony over MS.
But perhaps it will be a factor like the blown out 1080P vs the 900P and Sony could stumble at the start or you have developer shunning them as they do Nintendo.

The question is if you are Sony: What do you do?

[ILostMyMind]

Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Activision should end in the gaming market. They do not contribute to improve this scene, only to vampirise it with predatory schemes.

[bluefox755]

An understandable one.

[Pancit_Canton]

It's a choice. Just like Microsoft not putting AAA games on their hardware. They would rather invest on a low quality, low budget games like Crackdown 3, Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 3 for maximum profit.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Cross play hurts zero people, so the only reason PlayStation isn't down for it is because they don't feel they have to. Just like how they don't see value in EA Access or Game Pass or Backwards Compatibility or First Party pro controllers. It's a choice they made for all of us and there's nothing that can be done about it. Unless you're fortnite.

[Fluttershy77]

It is a choice. And they choose not to. Well for Sony it doesn't make any difference, it has sold Worldwide 80 million + consoles so chances are their games servers will always be ok-ish... MS could benefit from cross play, We think there are 30, 40M Xbox Ones out there, but we don't know for sure (and we don't actually know how many of those are still retail) ... But it is a fair guess to say that if a game online activity dies, it will die first on Xbox.
This probably has become some form of an issue for Xbox, that's why Phil Spencer an other Xbox people from time to time talk about this matter.
Sony won't do it! Is like asking Coca Cola for their secret formula: so more people can enjoy it!

[masterfox]

not this again. -_-

[EmperorDalek]

4 the gamers!

[maximumspidey]

at this point where the technology just keeps getting better a lot of games could seriously benefit from it like fighting games but keep being petty sony fans

[gamer7804]

well duh, Sonly just placated people for a while w/ fortnite and rocket league, they always said it was a "case by case" basis and not open support for crossplay. you still can't play with friends like you can with paladins on switch and xbox. We need more than just basic crossplay support, want open party invites and matchmaking.

[metabolicfrolic]

Cross-Play isn't a big deal to me because none of my friends play on Xbox anyways. Why should Sony give in when they know that they have the larger population of console users? Just doesn't seem like a smart move on their part.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

Kinda stupid in this day and age. All should be together, like the PC open to all players. Would be retarded if some games were restricted for example only to nVidia, or AMD think about that one. Or only can play if you have an AMD CPU or only an Intel CPU.

[jaycptza]

not even remotely the same issue

[ILostMyMind]

Or MP restricted only to Microsoft Store games, without Steam CP.

[Dragonscale]

Choices is good especially when it comes to xplay with xbone lol.

[ILostMyMind]

I think if Microsoft launched its exclusive games on PS4, Sony would not block crossplay with XBO. Microsoft, why are you so anti-consumer?

[azzkikr8502]

im not against crossplay and neither care for it as i have all 3 consoles but has any1 stopped to think that all these devs asking for crossplay are small time players bar a few recognizable ones.
y are the likes of EA or Activision not being hammered about crossplay? simple answer is revenue.
Y split all the money u can make on 3-4 different platforms coz if there was crossplay, they would only be making money off one consumer instead of mayb 2 like myself.
i have fifa and blackops 4 on both xbox1 and ps4 coz i game with different groups of people. so YES it would be great to only have to buy one copy but at the end of the day for a publisher 2 or more copies is always better then one. so at the end of the day, 90% of the industry is part of the problem as they are all in it to make money