Sony is finally allowing cross platform play with other consoles

Sony has finally reneged on the idea of cross-platform cross play, by opening up an extended beta of play that’ll let PlayStation owners out of their walled garden for a bit. PlayStation 4 Fortnite players will be able to test their mettle against not just PC and mobile players, but also those playing on Xbox One and Switch.

“Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content,” says Sony boss John Kodera. We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution.

The first step will be an open beta beginning today for Fortnite that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac operating systems. We see the beta as an opportunity to conduct thorough testing that ensures cross-platform play is best on PlayStation, while being mindful about the user experience from both a technical and social perspective.”

Honestly? It’s about goddamned time – and I’d love to see this open up to Minecraft and Rocket League as well, and hopefully future cross-platform games.

“For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective. Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.

This represents a major policy change for SIE, and we are now in the planning process across the organization to support this change. We will update the community once we have more details to share, including more specifics regarding the beta timeframe, and what this means for other titles going forward.”

Last Updated: September 26, 2018