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[Blak_Status]

Is it Sony? Is it Microsoft? Everyone? It doesn't matter. It needs to happen.

So obviously I'm a gamer. I'm not hardcore but I'm not casual either. I fall somewhere in between and I'm 34. However, most of my friends are around my age and I would consider them more on the casual side (Family life, full time jobs, etc). I own a gaming PC, PS4, and Wii U. When I surveyed some of my friends/familly... 3 have Xbox One, 1 has a Wii U, 1 has a PS4, 0 have gaming PCs, and 2 are still on 360. Even though many of them are on different platforms, they own a lot of the same games (NBA2k16, Madden 16, CoD, Destiny, etc.) They all are able to play online when time allows. The problem is we can't all play together. I can only play with the friends who has either the PS4 or Wii U. Unless I just want to pony up and buy a Xbox One too.

I know both Sony and Microsoft make revenue from their respective online subscriptions but online cross-play really needs to happen. The fact that we can't all play online together in 2015 going into 2016 is kind of ridiculous. I know the arguments for why it needs to remain this way but I truly believe it's better for the industry as a whole to end this segregation. Thoughts?

 

[spectator]

Microsoft.

 

[raven777]

Sony allows cross-play with PC.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

We know Microsoft for sure. Sony seems pretty open to cross-platform with PC.

 

[BadWolf]

MS by the sound of things.

FFXIV, SFV, Dragon's Dogma Online etc. have cross play between PS consoles and PC.

 

[Sophia]

If the comments made by Naoki Yoshida (director/producer of FFXIV) are any indication, it appears to be largely Microsoft. :\

He wants FFXIV on the Xbox One, but it won't happen until Microsoft says so.

 

[LPride]

Youre going to have to seperate mouse users from controller users regardless (for FPS games), but Im sure there would be a way to sequester each type of controller into its own opponent pool and still allow cross play. There are crazy people (cough, Jeff Gerstmann) who play with a controller on PC after all.

 

[Portugeezer]

Between consoles I don't think MS or Sony want it, but last gen MS had more interest to prevent console crossplay with PSN which was free. This gen I am not so sure.

 

[vocab]

Microsoft.

SFV, and Rocket League both have cross play, and are probably one of the biggest reasons those games will have a healthy population for years to come. It's pretty big for fighting games considering how segmented the fighting game community is on many different platforms across many different games. Also, a bigger pool of players allows for better matchmaking.

 

[Dio]

Microsoft. Sony has allowed titles to crossplay between PS4, PS3 and PC (see: FF14) and Street Fighter 5 has PC/PS4 crossplay.

From what developers have said publically, apparently Microsoft has a policy against crossplay.

 

[Ochibi]

Microsoft.

Sony allows FFXIV crossplay with PC. Square Enix wants to port the game to Xbox One but can't because Microsoft doesn't allow crossplay. Rocket League is crossplay with PC on PS4, but not on Xbox One.

I find Microsoft's move completely idiot, since they did accept crossplay for FFXI if I remember.

 

[KeyChainDude]

That would be Microsoft.

I'm also sure Nintendo will never allow it, but they're always separate on anything regarding online interactions anyway.

 

[kavanf1]

Can someone explain why it's Microsoft's fault? IIRC Shadowrun on the 360 was x-play with PC. Have they come out and said they don't want it? If anything I'd be expecting MS to push for alignment with PC, given that's where their strategy is headed.

 

[Corpekata]

IIRC Killer Instinct is launching with Crossplay, so it's not a matter of MS being totally against it as much as against it with Sony versions.

 

[oldmario]

microsoft pretty much

i remember reading something from the burnout paradise devs who had cross platform play working on the game but microsoft told them to remove it because they didn't want gold members to play with psn members who at the time had free online access

 

[Nephtes]

. There are crazy people (cough, Jeff Gerstmann) who play with a controller on PC after all.

Look... Some of us are developers who sit in front of a PC with a mouse and keyboard all day long (and some nights too).

The last thing I want to do when I get home is touch a mouse and keyboard.

Besides, after 10 years of writing software for a living, I think I'm getting the carpal tunnel syndrome...
Thanks mouse and keyboard. :/

 

[Mr-Joker]

That would be Microsoft.

I'm also sure Nintendo will never allow it, but they're always separate on anything regarding online interactions anyway.

Actually Nintendo did allow it with one indie title which had on-line cross play with PC, I just can't remember what game it was.

 

[Jonneh3003]

Blazblue and Shadowrun had crossplay on 360.
I think I remember an eshop game having crossplay on Wii U? Can't recall what is was.

 

[Broken Joystick]

Nintendo seems to be fine with it too, at least in regards to indie games (2013)

It's easy to forget Nintendo in all of this. The famously secretive company has never been one to blow its own trumpet, and has so far refused to make a song and dance about indie games on Wii U and 3DS. But behind the scenes developers have been courted - and many want their games on the eShop despite the terrible sales of the Wii U.

"They've been quiet, but they've not been idle at all," Ripstone's Gaskell reveals.

"We've been having similar conversations with them. They're changing their policies on the technical side a lot swifter. We're launching Pure Chess and Knytt Underground later this year, and on Pure Chess we asked whether we could do cross-platform multiplayer, expecting it to be the typical closed console platform I've been used to working with for 20 years. Within a couple of days 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.'

 

[Squire]

IIRC Killer Instinct is launching with Crossplay, so it's not a matter of MS being totally against it as much as against it with Sony versions.

And nothing indicates Sony doesn't regard MS the same way. It's a two way street, but the "Its all MS" posts are always amusing.

 

[vocab]

Can someone explain why it's Microsoft's fault? IIRC Shadowrun on the 360 was x-play with PC. Have they come out and said they don't want it? If anything I'd be expecting MS to push for alignment with PC, give that's where their strategy is headed.

They wanted PC players to buy a gold account. Hardly a shining example of good intentions.

 

[Seven4sses]

I'm gonna say Microsoft, but I feel like Sony isn't too open on the idea besides connecting with their last console (PS3) and PC. They haven't tried to implement the same plan with Nintendo, granted the opportunity hasn't happened yet. Microsoft is doing the same with just the PC, but I think they're not as open to the idea as sharing the same space with Sony.

 

[Pif]

Cubemen 2 for Wii U allows cross play with pc/android/ios I think.

 

[khaaan]

Does Dragon Quest X on the Wii/Wii U/3DS have cross-play with the PC?

 

[Vital Tundra]

Can someone explain why it's Microsoft's fault? IIRC Shadowrun on the 360 was x-play with PC. Have they come out and said they don't want it? If anything I'd be expecting MS to push for alignment with PC, give that's where their strategy is headed.

Because every time a new game has cross play, it's only with Sony and PC. Developers of FF14 has explicitly stated its Microsoft who says no and why Ff14 is not on Xbox. They want a connected community and Microsoft doesn't.

 

[kavanf1]

They wanted PC players to buy a gold account. Hardly a shining example of good intentions.

You mean ten years ago? GFWL is dead, I meant now - am curious as the response almost immediately put the blame on MS and I'd like to know why people are so convinced.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

I'm sceptical Sony or MS would be open to doing this with one another. Playing with the PC, however, is a different matter. I don't think just because Sony allows one they'd be open to allowing the other.

 

[raven777]

Can someone explain why it's Microsoft's fault? IIRC Shadowrun on the 360 was x-play with PC. Have they come out and said they don't want it? If anything I'd be expecting MS to push for alignment with PC, given that's where their strategy is headed.

FF14 Director: A Realm Reborn skipping Xbox is still down to Microsoft
Specifically, Microsoft refuses to allow titles to share multiplayer servers between other platforms. For Final Fantasy XI's Xbox 360 release the company made an exception - presumably to curry favour with Square Enix to secure Final Fantasy XIII's release for their console - but no such exception has been made for the latest MMO entry. If Square Enix want to release it, they'd have to offer another set of servers for the Xbox 360 release. PC, PS3 and PS4 are all intended to share with no boundaries once released.

http://www.rpgsite.net/news/2430-ff14-director-a-realm-reborn-skipping-xbox-is-still-down-to-microsoft

 

[Ogodei]

Actually Nintendo did allow it with one indie title which had on-line cross play with PC, I just can't remember what game it was.

Nintendo's quite laissez-faire about what third parties can do online on their platforms. It's part of the problem, because often 3rd parties would rather just have a network given to them. Similar to Nintendo's "you can do achievements if you want, whatever," mentality.

 

[kavanf1]

Because every time a new game has cross play, it's only with Sony and PC. Developers of FF14 has explicitly stated its Microsoft who says no and why Ff14 is not on Xbox. They want a connected community and Microsoft doesn't.

OK thanks, that makes sense. I'll take your last sentence with a pinch of salt though. Could just as easily be down to security concerns.

 

[ciddative]

MS by the sound of things.

FFXIV, SFV, Dragon's Dogma Online etc. have cross play between PS consoles and PC.

SFV is cross play with PC? thats damn cool

 

[agiantenemycrab]

Does Dragon Quest X on the Wii/Wii U/3DS have cross-play with the PC?

The Wii version does, not sure about Wii U though. That said, all versions of that game are IP locked to Japan, so it's not a exactly a shining example of the advantages of open networks

 

[krizalidzero]

Microsoft.

That's it, really. Micosoft has an anti multi plat policy that they only let go when they really need it (FFXI comes to mind).

Sony is open to it.

 

[myco666]

IIRC Killer Instinct is launching with Crossplay, so it's not a matter of MS being totally against it as much as against it with Sony versions.

But KI isn't coming out on Steam or is it? As far as I know MS wants to keep their games on their own ecosystem and doesn't want 'actual' crossplay.

 

[Caayn]

I don't think that we can give an answer. Both seem fine with cross-play with the PC platform. Both have titles coming that support that and have previous titles that do.

Between consoles however I think that can say that neither like the idea of their consumer base interacting in games with the consumer base of the direct competitor.

 

[TheSpoiler]

And nothing indicates Sony doesn't regard MS the same way. It's a two way street, but the "Its all MS" posts are always amusing.

FF14?

 

[Chobel]

And nothing indicates Sony doesn't regard MS the same way. It's a two way street, but the "Its all MS" posts are always amusing.

So we're just gonna ignore FFXIV case?

And the old Burnout Paradise case (new for me)?

 

[Blak_Status]

Between consoles however I think that can say that neither like the idea of their consumer base interacting in games with the consumer base of the direct competitor.

I mean.. I get it. I just think that it's dumb. That's part of the reason "console wars" exist. They should just focus on games, innovations, and features for their systems. Let online friends be friends regardless of the platform. It's better for the gamers. The closed online infrastructure needs to die.

 

[Synth]

IIRC Killer Instinct is launching with Crossplay, so it's not a matter of MS being totally against it as much as against it with Sony versions.

MS allows crossplay via Xbox Live. Whether that be GFWL or Windows 10, they're fine with it as long as it's running through their online platform. It's still crossplay by definition, but it's not really crossplatform, because the platform is still Xbox Live in both cases. Sony on the other hand has regularly allowed cross-platform play with entirely different ecosystems (PlayOnline, Steam etc).

And nothing indicates Sony doesn't regard MS the same way. It's a two way street, but the "Its all MS" posts are always amusing.

I think there's plenty to suggest that this is on MS' end actually. There's the lack of cross-ecosystem support, that would largely be required for this to work (Sony's not going to have PlayStations running games via Xbox Live, and rightfully so)... plus the few times where exceptions have been made in this regards (Final Fantasy IX back when MS were wiling to make some concession to ensure Japanese support) Sony has never attempted to veto the Xbox playerbase joining an ecosystem that already contained PlayStation players.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

It really is just MS.

 

[post-S]

Doesn't Microsoft require all crossplay title use their Azure servers? I'm pretty sure I read it somewhere here

 

[Exile20]

That would be Microsoft.

I'm also sure Nintendo will never allow it, but they're always separate on anything regarding online interactions anyway.

Nintendo allows cross play with PC also.

“We’re launching Pure Chess and Knytt Underground [on Wii U] later this year, and on Pure Chess we asked whether we could do cross-platform multiplayer, expecting it to be the typical closed console platform I’ve been used to working with for 20 years,” Gaskell said.

“Within a couple of days 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.’"

http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-okays-cross-play-between-wii-u-and-other-systems-263507.phtml

 

[LewieP]

It's Microsoft.

Pure Chess has cross platform multiplayer across PS3, PS4. PS Vita, Wii U, 3DS, iOS and Android.

There is no Xbox version of Pure Chess.

Microsoft won't even allow online multiplayer across Xbox and PC unless the PC version is specifically sold through the Windows App Store. The market for games on the Windows App Store is tiny compared to the rest of the market, especially Steam.

Microsoft's refusal to allow cross-platform play between Steam versions of games and Xbox versions of their games is why there are far more devs supporting PC > console crossplatform play on Playstation than there are on Xbox. Sony have no such policy regarding Steam.

I think this is fairly backwards thinking from MS, but those are their policies.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Nintendo allows cross play with PC also.

..and others.

 

[Three]

I could be remembering incorrectly but I remember an interview with Criterion back when paradise city was being released saying they actually had it in the game until MS told them they can't do it. Somebody want to jog my memory on this. Any past/present Criterion employees about?
At this point I don't think either party wants it anymore.

 

[phaonaut]

Wouldn't cross play with consoles be an issue for a lot of games, especially the AAA titles that give special maps/features to certain consoles and time exclusive access to map packs.

It would be like trying to play bf4 on pc without the premium map packs, almost impossible.

 

[batman2million]

But KI isn't coming out on Steam or is it? As far as I know MS wants to keep their games on their own ecosystem and doesn't want 'actual' crossplay.

So if it's not on steam its not "actual" cross play?


Man the MS hate is strong. There was a cross play game on 360, I think it was shadow run. And there are a handful of games for the x1 that are planning to allow cross play. Fable legends and KI being some.


Sony does have a handful more but from my experience with rocket league is pretty much useless becuase you cant do matchmaking with cross platform. Unless they updated it.

 

[Spacejaws]

Youre going to have to seperate mouse users from controller users regardless (for FPS games), but Im sure there would be a way to sequester each type of controller into its own opponent pool and still allow cross play. There are crazy people (cough, Jeff Gerstmann) who play with a controller on PC after all.

Didn't Unreal Tournament 3 do it ok? I think you could search for servers that were mouse or gamepad only or a mix. You could even hook a mouse and keyboard up to the PS3 don't know of any other last gen FPS games that did that (i think there was some though).

Didn't matter in the end, the players died so fast there was generally only 1 server on every gametype that
had a population. I never felt really held back bu the controller hell I've been playing Battlefield 4 with a gamepad on PC for years.

 

[ezodagrom]

When it comes to Sony, there's even cross-play between Vita and PC, in this case soon to be PS4, Vita and PC (Phantasy Star Online 2).

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

MS, for sure. My steam account is "psn_whatever" because I signed up when Portal 2 came on PS3. Sony hasn't exactly reached out to Microsoft to join hands, but Microsoft has specifically commented that they don't allow cross-platform play because "it dilutes the high-quality online experience that our paying Xbox Live customers have come to expect" or something like that.