Sony have taken a lot of flak from the press and fans alike for their position in not allowing cross-play with other platforms, which was brought to everyone’s attention when Epic accounts for Fortnite on PS4 were effectively banned from being used on Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch. At the time, Sony were adamant that this was not a thing they were getting involved with, citing security as their major concern. However, this week has seen them dipping their toe into cross-play waters with the announcement that Fortnite cross-play will be enabled as from September 26th, coinciding with Fortnite Season 6.
John Kodera, President and Global CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment released a statement;
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.
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.
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.
No-one except die-hard Sony fanboys will have any issues with this announcement which now means that no matter what console your friends are playing on you will all be able to play together. Now for cross-save!
