Sony makes history by opening its PlayStation 4 to cross-platform play with rival consoles

After its open crusade against cross-platform compatibility, it seems that Sony has pulled a one-eighty, finally opening the borders between its PlayStation 4 and rival consoles. Fortnite: Battle Royale will be the first game to receive the treatment, becoming the first title in history to allow players on all consoles to play alongside one another.

Despite openly embracing PC players within select games, Sony has adamantly kept its PlayStation 4 closed when it comes to cross-platform play with other consoles. This has garnered an increasing amount of backlash from fans, particularly with rivals Microsoft and Nintendo collaborating in an effort to give control to the players and Bethesda stating that it is a non-negotiable feature for some games.

While Sony’s public reasoning for this was that it believed the PS4 was the single best place to play, a former executive revealed that it was primarily about loss of earnings if players decided to purchase microtransactions on another platform rather than give Sony its 30 percent cut. Sony reassured fans that it hadn’t forgone the idea completely and was looking into ways it could possibly work.

It looks like the company has finally found its answer, however, as Sony Interactive Entertainment boss John Kodera has announced the unprecedented news that the company will be joining its rivals, making history as the first generation with full cross-platform play.

“Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content. 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,” explains Kodera.

“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.”

The post explains that Sony’s primary focus is to provide fans with a “uniquely PlayStation perspective,” however it has finally recognised the evolution of the gaming industry and wants to offer a modern experience that its fans have voiced their desire for. Details are scarce, currently, as Sony irons out the business side to ensure it minimalises potential losses, but cross-platform play is coming. What was once teased to fans at the end of last year will become an official feature.

KitGuru Says: I can’t wait to see what other games will bridge the gap between rival consoles. Has the lack of cross-platform play ever prevented you from playing with friends? What do you think of Sony’s latest decision?   

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