There can be no doubt that video games are a huge multi-billion dollar industry, but players are given limitations with the consoles that they choose to play. PS4 users are stuck on their PlayStation network, and Xbox One users are limited to playing with other Xbox One users. This could be in for a huge change, as Xbox is extending an invitation for crossplay to Sony. But what is Sony saying about crossplay? Here is the latest news about the release date and what needs to happen to get crossplay happening.
According to CNET, ID@Xbox Europe boss Agostino Simonetta told Eurogamer something that gamers have heard before, and that Psyonix's Rocket League may be the first game to support Xbox One/PS4 cross-play. Simonetta said: "As a platform we don't force developers to release at any point, it'll be when the developers are ready".
In fact, the technology for Xbox One/PS4 crossplay is already in place, and Simonetta said that "any title that wants to update their game to include cross-network play, any title that wants to launch soon and take advantage of that, we are ready".
Microsoft has extended an invitation to any network that wants to connect to Xbox Live, but everyone is thinking the PlayStation one. Simonetta used to work at Sony, and he apparently hasn't heard anything back from the big Japanese company if they want to take part.
So, from what it looks like, the invitation has been sent out by Microsoft, and all that crossplay is waiting for is approval from Sony. Sony's own PlayStation Lifestyle blog has said that the "ball is in the developer's court" for Microsoft's open invitation, but there still doesn't seem to be any response yet from Sony, public, private, or otherwise on this.
A separate article on PlayStation Lifestyle mentioned that Sony's own Adam Boyes has addressed the idea of cross-platform play between the two consoles, and that Sony is "always willing to have the conversation". He also said that it's something that the PlayStation community wants then the company would look into it.
Boyes statement came last month, and it was during that time when Boyes talked about PlayStation VR and it's price. His final words on the subject of crossplay were: "What we always do when we're looking at any feature on the PS4 is really hearing from the community and a lot of the decisions we make on the platform are based on what the community is looking for. So that's always been part of PlayStation's DNA and that's what we're always going to look for - if publishers/developers are interested if gamers are interested, then we're always willing to explore a variety of opportunities."
In other words, it looks like Microsoft wants crossplay, and it appears that Sony wants crossplay, even if they haven't made some grand announcement of a "yes" as yet. It does appear that we are heading into an era where gamers can play their favorite game with players on both the Xbox One and the PS4, and I'm sure the next generation of systems will be set up for the same crossplay potential. As for the release date of crossplay, it is in the hands of the developers, depending on how fast they can implement the changes.
