<s>
In	O
video	O
games	O
with	O
online	O
gaming	O
functionality	O
,	O
also	O
called	O
cross-compatible	O
play	O
,	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
crossplay	O
,	O
or	O
cross-play	O
describes	O
the	O
ability	O
of	O
players	O
using	O
different	O
video	O
game	O
hardware	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
each	O
other	O
simultaneously	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
commonly	O
applied	O
to	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
players	O
using	O
a	O
game	O
on	O
a	O
specific	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
to	O
play	O
alongside	O
a	O
player	O
on	O
a	O
different	O
hardware	O
platform	O
such	O
as	O
another	O
console	O
or	O
a	O
computer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cross-play	O
is	O
related	O
to	O
but	O
distinct	O
from	O
the	O
notion	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
development	O
,	O
which	O
uses	O
software	O
languages	O
and	O
tools	O
to	O
enable	O
deployment	O
of	O
software	O
on	O
multiple	B-Operating_System
platforms	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
is	O
also	O
a	O
distinct	O
concept	O
from	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
allow	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
play	O
a	O
game	O
on	O
different	O
hardware	O
platforms	O
,	O
often	O
only	O
having	O
to	O
purchase	O
the	O
title	O
for	O
one	O
single	O
system	O
to	O
have	O
access	O
to	O
it	O
on	O
other	O
systems	O
,	O
and	O
retaining	O
their	O
progress	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
cloud	O
storage	O
or	O
similar	O
techniques	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
while	O
technically	O
feasible	O
with	O
today	O
's	O
computer	O
hardware	O
,	O
generally	O
is	O
impeded	O
by	O
two	O
factors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
factor	O
relates	O
to	O
the	O
closed	O
online	O
services	O
used	O
on	O
consoles	O
that	O
are	O
designed	O
to	O
provide	O
a	O
safe	O
and	O
consistent	O
environment	O
for	O
its	O
players	O
that	O
require	O
the	O
businesses	O
 '	O
cooperation	O
to	O
open	O
up	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Up	O
through	O
September	O
2018	O
,	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
had	O
restricted	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
other	O
consoles	O
,	O
creating	O
a	O
rift	B-Device
between	O
players	O
of	O
popular	O
games	O
like	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
and	O
Fortnite	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2018	O
,	O
Sony	O
changed	O
their	O
stance	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
opened	O
up	O
beta-testing	O
for	O
Fortnite	B-Application
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
officially	O
stated	O
it	O
will	O
allow	O
any	O
developers	O
to	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
in	O
October	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
seventh	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
video	O
games	O
were	O
typically	O
developed	O
for	O
a	O
single	O
console	O
with	O
only	O
a	O
few	O
games	O
receiving	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
releases	O
across	O
multiple	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
seventh	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
which	O
saw	O
console	O
systems	O
use	O
similar	O
processor	O
hardware	O
as	O
personal	O
computers	O
,	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
development	O
for	O
both	O
consoles	O
and	O
personal	O
computers	O
became	O
much	O
easier	O
to	O
achieve	O
using	O
standard	O
software	B-Library
libraries	I-Library
,	O
game	O
engines	O
,	O
and	O
scripting	B-Language
languages	I-Language
that	O
isolate	O
platform-specific	O
details	O
from	O
the	O
specific	O
elements	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Such	O
tools	O
enabled	O
games	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
simultaneously	O
for	O
multiple	B-Operating_System
platforms	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Games	O
released	O
for	O
a	O
platform	O
may	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
platform-specific	O
networking	O
libraries	O
to	O
accomplish	O
this	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Winsock	B-Application
layer	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
games	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
with	O
other	O
versions	O
released	O
on	O
other	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
most	O
games	O
with	O
online	O
components	O
and	O
developed	O
for	O
multiple	B-Operating_System
platforms	I-Operating_System
generally	O
use	O
standard	O
TCP/IP	B-Protocol
-type	I-Protocol
functions	O
for	O
communication	O
between	O
players	O
 '	O
clients	O
,	O
or	O
between	O
a	O
client	O
and	O
a	O
game	O
server	O
,	O
nullifying	O
the	O
intrinsic	O
differences	O
between	O
hardware	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
some	O
practical	O
limitations	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
games	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
computer	O
or	O
console	O
acts	O
as	O
the	O
server	O
,	O
the	O
hardware	O
capabilities	O
may	O
place	O
limits	O
on	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
players	O
that	O
that	O
server	O
can	O
host	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
preventing	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
most	O
common	O
limitation	O
for	O
supporting	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
from	O
a	O
developer	O
's	O
stance	O
is	O
the	O
difference	O
in	O
control	O
schemes	O
between	O
consoles	O
and	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
Rahul	O
Sood	O
,	O
the	O
president	O
of	O
Voodoo	O
PC	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
Microsoft	O
had	O
terminated	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
computer	O
players	O
for	O
an	O
upcoming	O
game	O
claiming	O
that	O
even	O
skilled	O
console	O
players	O
"	O
got	O
destroyed	O
every	O
time	O
"	O
in	O
matches	O
against	O
computer	O
players	O
of	O
mediocre	O
skill	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
difference	O
between	O
controller	O
and	O
keyboard-and-mouse	O
controls	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
would	O
be	O
seen	O
as	O
an	O
embarrassment	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
implemented	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
in	O
its	O
game	O
Overwatch	B-Application
for	O
all	O
supported	O
consoles	O
and	O
on	O
personal	O
computers	O
,	O
but	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
advantage	O
keyboard-mouse	O
players	O
have	O
over	O
controllers	O
,	O
which	O
greatly	O
affects	O
performance	O
in	O
the	O
fast-paced	O
game	O
,	O
they	O
kept	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
competitive	O
play	O
mode	O
segregated	O
into	O
console	O
and	O
computer	O
player	O
pools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cliff	O
Bleszinski	O
believed	O
that	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
his	O
game	O
LawBreakers	B-Application
was	O
a	O
"	O
pipe	O
dream	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
anticipated	O
that	O
by	O
placing	O
tools	O
such	O
as	O
aim	O
assist	O
to	O
help	O
console	O
players	O
match	O
computer	O
players	O
,	O
computer	O
players	O
would	O
be	O
upset	O
at	O
the	O
handicap	O
this	O
introduced	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
base	O
would	O
react	O
negatively	O
towards	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
wider	O
adoption	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
in	O
many	O
mainstream	O
titles	O
starting	O
around	O
2020	O
,	O
the	O
issues	O
of	O
balancing	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
aim	O
assist	O
in	O
first-person	O
shooters	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
game	O
automatically	O
locks	O
onto	O
targets	O
for	O
those	O
using	O
controllers	O
,	O
became	O
of	O
concern	O
as	O
a	O
game	O
with	O
aggressive	O
aim	O
assist	O
could	O
lead	O
to	O
poor	O
balance	O
between	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Providing	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
is	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
means	O
to	O
keep	O
a	O
game	O
's	O
player	O
base	O
large	O
even	O
several	O
months	O
out	O
after	O
a	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Generally	O
,	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
personal	O
computers	O
of	O
different	O
operating	O
systems	O
is	O
readily	O
enabled	O
using	O
standard	O
communication	O
protocols	O
,	O
and	O
only	O
requires	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
appropriately	O
ported	O
to	O
these	O
other	O
systems	O
;	O
the	O
computer	O
platform	O
is	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
very	O
open	O
due	O
to	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
digital	O
online	O
services	O
that	O
operate	O
on	O
the	O
computer	O
have	O
become	O
popular	O
since	O
around	O
2010	O
,	O
these	O
systems	O
typically	O
remain	O
open	O
,	O
providing	O
the	O
developer	O
with	O
tools	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
Valve	O
's	O
online	O
game	O
service	O
,	O
Steam	B-Application
was	O
initially	O
built	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
computers	I-Application
,	O
but	O
in	O
2010	O
expanded	O
to	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
systems	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2013	O
to	O
Linux	B-Application
(	O
including	O
Valve	O
's	O
customized	O
SteamOS	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Steamworks	O
API	O
offered	O
to	O
developers	O
through	O
the	O
service	O
enables	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
to	O
uses	O
on	O
these	O
different	O
operating	O
systems	O
while	O
taking	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
friends	O
,	O
communication	O
,	O
and	O
matchmaking	O
features	O
offered	O
by	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
initially	O
games	O
on	O
both	O
the	O
Epic	O
Games	O
and	O
Steam	B-Application
were	O
not	O
compatible	O
,	O
Epic	O
developed	O
and	O
released	O
a	O
free	O
API	O
for	O
supporting	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
games	O
released	O
on	O
both	O
storefronts	O
in	O
June	O
2022	O
,	O
with	O
plans	O
to	O
expand	O
this	O
for	O
mobile	O
and	O
console	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
enabled	O
some	O
games	O
to	O
be	O
deployed	O
as	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
attempts	O
at	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
include	O
the	O
1998	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
which	O
included	O
a	O
built-in	O
modem	O
;	O
Microsoft	O
worked	O
with	O
Sega	O
to	O
provide	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
to	O
developers	O
to	O
make	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
games	O
between	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	O
players	O
for	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
4x4	B-Operating_System
Evo	I-Operating_System
,	O
Maximum	B-Application
Pool	I-Application
,	O
Quake	B-Application
3	I-Application
Arena	I-Application
and	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
Online	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
would	O
launch	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
in	O
2000	O
,	O
which	O
feature	O
support	O
for	O
online	O
play	O
via	O
an	O
external	O
modem	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
13	O
,	O
2001	O
,	O
Capcom	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
SNK	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Square	O
Enix	O
would	O
introduce	O
online	O
play	O
between	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Windows	O
users	O
for	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XI	I-Protocol
in	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
introduction	O
of	O
Internet-ready	O
game	O
consoles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
brought	O
online	O
services	O
that	O
aid	O
in	O
securely	O
managing	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
credentials	O
,	O
digital	O
store	O
purchases	O
,	O
friend	O
lists	O
,	O
messaging	O
and	O
other	O
social	O
features	O
,	O
and	O
online	O
matchmaking	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Historically	O
,	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
consoles	O
has	O
been	O
very	O
limited	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
these	O
services	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
have	O
console	O
games	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
holy	O
grail	O
"	O
within	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
sector	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
technical	O
challenge	O
that	O
faces	O
console-based	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
is	O
the	O
network	O
communication	O
between	O
platforms	O
,	O
managing	O
the	O
different	O
protocols	O
used	O
by	O
each	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
technical	O
limitations	O
can	O
be	O
overcome	O
,	O
with	O
at	O
least	O
three	O
developers	O
stating	O
they	O
could	O
enable	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
within	O
a	O
day	O
once	O
they	O
were	O
allowed	O
to	O
do	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
"	O
configuration	O
issue	O
"	O
briefly	O
allowed	O
computer	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
players	O
to	O
play	O
alongside	O
each	O
other	O
in	O
the	O
online	O
cooperative	O
game	O
Fortnite	B-Application
in	O
mid-September	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Epic	O
Games	O
corrected	O
the	O
configuration	O
and	O
stated	O
this	O
was	O
a	O
mistake	O
,	O
the	O
brief	O
situations	O
demonstrated	O
that	O
technical	O
barriers	O
to	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
can	O
be	O
met	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
in	O
March	O
2018	O
,	O
Epic	O
announced	O
plans	O
to	O
take	O
the	O
spinoff	O
title	O
,	O
Fortnite	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
Windows	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
mobile	O
devices	O
,	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
enabled	O
between	O
computer	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
mobile	O
,	O
and	O
computer	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
and	O
mobile	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
these	O
technical	O
challenges	O
can	O
be	O
overcome	O
,	O
the	O
primarily	O
limiting	O
factor	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
has	O
been	O
the	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
and	O
acceptable	O
use	O
policy	O
that	O
developers	O
and	O
players	O
must	O
abide	O
by	O
when	O
using	O
the	O
consoles	O
 '	O
online	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
's	O
Shuhei	O
Yoshida	O
,	O
in	O
discussing	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
PlayStation	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
platforms	O
,	O
noted	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
technical	O
aspect	O
could	O
be	O
the	O
easiest	O
"	O
to	O
overcome	O
compared	O
to	O
policy	O
and	O
business-related	O
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
online	O
services	O
have	O
restrictions	O
on	O
age-related	O
content	O
which	O
prevent	O
certain	O
games	O
from	O
using	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
or	O
to	O
disable	O
certain	O
features	O
to	O
allow	O
it	O
;	O
Dave	O
Hagewood	O
,	O
a	O
lead	O
developer	O
for	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
,	O
noted	O
that	O
they	O
had	O
to	O
launch	O
their	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
supports	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
Windows	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
versions	O
,	O
without	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
communicate	O
across	O
systems	O
due	O
to	O
content	O
regulations	O
Sony	O
has	O
in	O
place	O
;	O
they	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
later	O
patch	O
in	O
filters	O
to	O
allow	O
for	O
this	O
communications	O
under	O
Sony	O
's	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
had	O
to	O
drop	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
computer	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
from	O
its	O
2012	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
:	I-Application
Global	I-Application
Offensive	I-Application
just	O
before	O
launch	O
as	O
they	O
wanted	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
patch	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
a	O
frequent	O
basis	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
be	O
limited	O
by	O
Sony	O
's	O
certification	O
process	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
system	O
;	O
they	O
had	O
similarly	O
tried	O
to	O
bring	O
Steamworks	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
for	O
this	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
found	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
certification	O
policies	O
to	O
be	O
too	O
restrictive	O
for	O
frequent	O
updates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
decades	O
,	O
console	O
manufacturers	O
have	O
worked	O
proactively	O
to	O
protect	O
the	O
exclusivity	O
of	O
a	O
game	O
on	O
their	O
system	O
from	O
other	O
console	O
competitors	O
,	O
to	O
which	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
can	O
be	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
threat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
journalists	O
have	O
postulated	O
that	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
had	O
been	O
restricted	O
by	O
console	O
makers	O
as	O
to	O
assure	O
players	O
remain	O
with	O
their	O
platform	O
for	O
future	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kyle	O
Orland	O
for	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
said	O
that	O
if	O
a	O
player	O
wants	O
to	O
continue	O
playing	O
new	O
games	O
with	O
friends	O
,	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
required	O
them	O
to	O
continue	O
to	O
purchase	O
the	O
new	O
games	O
for	O
that	O
console	O
platform	O
,	O
creating	O
"	O
powerful	O
network	O
effects	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alex	O
Perry	O
of	O
Mic	O
similarly	O
noted	O
that	O
lack	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
can	O
lead	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
try	O
to	O
push	O
and	O
influence	O
their	O
friends	O
to	O
by	O
the	O
same	O
console	O
so	O
they	O
can	O
play	O
together	O
,	O
boosting	O
sales	O
for	O
that	O
console	O
manufacturer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
explored	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
their	O
Xbox	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
and	O
players	O
on	O
Windows	O
machines	O
uses	O
services	O
under	O
its	O
purview	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
developed	O
the	O
Games	B-Application
for	I-Application
Windows	I-Application
–	I-Application
Live	I-Application
interface	O
in	O
part	O
to	O
work	O
with	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
services	O
so	O
that	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
could	O
be	O
released	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
such	O
title	O
released	O
being	O
Shadowrun	B-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
put	O
further	O
effort	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
features	O
through	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
the	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
operating	O
system	O
for	O
personal	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Announced	O
during	O
the	O
March	O
2015	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Conference	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
integrates	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
services	O
directly	O
and	O
includes	O
technology	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
Cross-Play	O
feature	O
that	O
enables	O
,	O
among	O
other	O
features	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
users	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
consoles	O
to	O
play	O
together	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
announced	O
games	O
that	O
would	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
including	O
Gigantic	B-Application
and	O
Fable	B-Device
Legends	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Issues	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
different	O
control	O
schemes	O
remain	O
a	O
limiting	O
factor	O
;	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
head	O
of	O
publishing	O
Shannon	O
Loftis	O
said	O
that	O
some	O
games	O
,	O
like	O
racing	O
games	O
,	O
do	O
not	O
readily	O
translate	O
well	O
to	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
titles	O
due	O
to	O
control	O
system	O
differences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
such	O
title	O
is	O
the	O
Killer	B-Application
Instinct	I-Application
,	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
with	O
a	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
version	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
that	O
supports	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2016	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Play	O
Anywhere	O
program	O
for	O
upcoming	O
games	O
that	O
allow	O
users	O
to	O
purchase	O
the	O
title	O
for	O
either	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
or	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
and	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
it	O
on	O
the	O
other	O
platform	O
without	O
having	O
to	O
repurchase	O
the	O
title	O
for	O
that	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
also	O
further	O
enhances	O
the	O
integration	O
of	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
services	O
on	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
more	O
titles	O
to	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initial	O
titles	O
released	O
under	O
this	O
program	O
include	O
Gears	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
4	I-Application
and	O
Forza	B-Application
Horizon	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2016	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
a	O
new	O
initiative	O
to	O
open	O
up	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
to	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
to	O
Windows	O
users	O
without	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
game	O
under	O
this	O
initiative	O
was	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
,	O
allowed	O
users	O
using	O
the	O
Steam-enabled	O
version	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
those	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
,	O
starting	O
in	O
May	O
2016	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
extended	O
this	O
invitation	O
to	O
any	O
other	O
online	O
service	O
,	O
including	O
Steam	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
vice	O
president	O
of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
division	O
Mike	O
Ybarra	O
stating	O
"	O
It	O
’s	O
more	O
about	O
gamer	O
choice	O
,	O
more	O
about	O
making	O
an	O
IP	O
on	O
our	O
platform	O
last	O
longer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Separately	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
allows	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
games	O
that	O
supported	O
online	O
play	O
that	O
were	O
made	O
to	O
be	O
backwards	B-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
's	O
consoles	O
have	O
generally	O
not	O
supported	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
as	O
they	O
were	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
closed	O
"	O
platform	O
,	O
though	O
some	O
Nintendo	O
games	O
included	O
cross-play	O
between	O
its	O
own	O
consoles	O
,	O
for	O
example	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
Crystal	I-Application
Chronicles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Echoes	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
on	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
and	O
DS	B-Device
,	O
Dragon	B-Protocol
Quest	I-Protocol
X	I-Protocol
for	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
,	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
,	O
Pure	B-Application
Chess	I-Application
on	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
and	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Monster	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
3	I-Application
Ultimate	I-Application
and	O
Monster	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
Generations	I-Application
Ultimate	I-Application
,	O
which	O
feature	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
multiplayer	O
between	O
3DS/Wii	O
U	O
and	O
3DS/Switch	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
for	I-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
3DS	I-Application
and	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
U	I-Application
was	O
a	O
particularly	O
high-profile	O
example	O
of	O
functionality	O
akin	O
to	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
and	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
the	O
same	O
full	O
gameplay	O
instance	O
did	O
not	O
explicitly	O
run	O
in	O
tandem	O
on	O
both	O
systems	O
simultaneously	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
two	O
versions	O
 '	O
differing	O
stage	O
lists	O
,	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
version	O
owners	O
could	O
use	O
their	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
system	O
as	O
a	O
controller	O
and	O
auxiliary	O
score	O
display	O
for	O
matches	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
version	O
and	O
players	O
could	O
use	O
their	O
acquired	O
equipment	O
and	O
saved	O
loadouts	O
from	O
either	O
version	O
on	O
the	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
has	O
more	O
recently	O
sought	O
to	O
gain	O
favor	O
with	O
independent	O
developers	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
this	O
,	O
have	O
allowed	O
some	O
titles	O
to	O
include	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
support	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
being	O
Pure	B-Application
Chess	I-Application
and	O
Knytt	B-Application
Underground	I-Application
in	O
2013	O
,	O
which	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
,	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
mobile	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
console	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2017	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
has	O
adopted	O
a	O
more	O
open	O
route	O
for	O
developers	O
using	O
existing	O
toolsets	O
and	O
game	O
engines	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
easier	O
for	O
them	O
to	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2017	O
in	O
June	O
of	O
that	O
year	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
PC	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
versions	O
of	O
both	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
and	O
Minecraft	B-Application
on	O
the	O
Switch	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
corporate	O
communications	O
director	O
Charlie	O
Scibetta	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
is	O
"	O
trying	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
flexible	O
and	O
bring	O
more	O
people	O
in	O
"	O
by	O
allowing	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
particularly	O
in	O
cases	O
where	O
the	O
developer	O
wants	O
to	O
pursue	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2011	O
,	O
Valve	O
worked	O
with	O
Sony	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
Steam	B-Application
to	O
operate	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
that	O
enabled	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
its	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Portal	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
with	O
computer	O
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Sony	O
provided	O
features	O
that	O
enabled	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
it	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
title	O
to	O
support	O
this	O
being	O
Helldivers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
paid	O
subscription	O
based	O
MMORPG	O
Final	O
Fantasy	O
XIV	O
A	O
Realm	O
Reborn	O
released	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
PC	O
,	O
MAC	O
,	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
also	O
adopted	O
this	O
format	O
for	O
FFXIV	O
ARR	O
which	O
has	O
led	O
to	O
16+	O
million	O
downloads	O
,	O
3	O
expansions	O
and	O
an	O
active	O
player	O
base	O
that	O
surpassed	O
the	O
PC	O
only	O
subscription	O
MMORPG	O
World	O
of	O
Warcraft	O
in	O
active	O
player	O
subs	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
FFXIV	O
ARR	O
's	O
third	O
expansion	O
for	O
PC	O
&	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
"	O
Shadowbringers	O
"	O
on	O
July	O
2	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
long	O
term	O
success	O
has	O
shown	O
the	O
true	O
power	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
gaming	O
to	O
Sony	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Sony	O
has	O
continued	O
to	O
offer	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
computer	O
systems	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
was	O
initially	O
reluctant	O
to	O
allow	O
cross-play	O
with	O
other	O
consoles	O
for	O
the	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
's	O
first	O
five	O
years	O
of	O
availability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
plan	O
for	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
,	O
the	O
company	O
invited	O
other	O
online	O
networks	O
to	O
participate	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
responded	O
by	O
saying	O
they	O
are	O
open	O
to	O
having	O
discussions	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
in	O
light	O
of	O
this	O
invitation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshida	O
noted	O
that	O
while	O
connecting	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
networks	I-Device
to	O
the	O
computer	O
is	O
straightforward	O
given	O
the	O
openness	O
of	O
the	O
computer	O
's	O
platform	O
,	O
connection	O
to	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
platform	O
requires	O
them	O
to	O
think	O
about	O
the	O
nature	O
of	O
connecting	O
two	O
closed	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshida	O
considered	O
that	O
the	O
primary	O
challenge	O
would	O
be	O
policy	O
and	O
business-related	O
rather	O
than	O
any	O
technical	O
challenge	O
,	O
but	O
are	O
open	O
to	O
working	O
out	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
on	O
a	O
per-game	O
basis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
least	O
three	O
developers	O
,	O
Psyonix	O
(	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
)	O
,	O
CD	O
Projekt	O
(	O
Gwent	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Witcher	I-Application
Card	I-Application
Game	I-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
Studio	O
Wildcard	O
(	O
Ark	B-Application
:	I-Application
Survival	I-Application
Evolved	I-Application
)	O
stated	O
they	O
have	O
made	O
all	O
the	O
technical	O
requirements	O
to	O
enable	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
would	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
activate	O
these	O
within	O
mere	O
hours	O
of	O
receiving	O
formal	O
authorisation	O
from	O
Sony	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bethesda	O
Game	O
Studios	O
 '	O
Todd	O
Howard	O
said	O
that	O
while	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
have	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
their	O
upcoming	O
online	O
title	O
,	O
Fallout	B-Application
76	I-Application
,	O
they	O
cannot	O
offer	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
Sony	O
is	O
not	O
as	O
helpful	O
as	O
everyone	O
would	O
like	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
,	O
Bethesda	O
stated	O
they	O
will	O
only	O
plan	O
to	O
release	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
card	O
game	O
for	O
console	O
platforms	O
that	O
fully	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
computers	O
and	O
mobile	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
concerns	O
about	O
Sony	O
's	O
reluctance	O
to	O
participate	O
with	O
other	O
consoles	O
came	O
after	O
the	O
E3	O
2017	O
announcements	O
regarding	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
and	O
Minecraft	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
said	O
that	O
it	O
has	O
been	O
in	O
discussions	O
with	O
Sony	O
to	O
help	O
bring	O
them	O
into	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
compatibility	O
,	O
though	O
disagreed	O
with	O
Sony	O
's	O
safety	O
concerns	O
as	O
Microsoft	O
says	O
it	O
has	O
taken	O
similar	O
measures	O
as	O
Sony	O
to	O
assure	O
features	O
like	O
strong	O
parental	O
controls	O
were	O
present	O
on	O
its	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
's	O
Phil	O
Spencer	O
said	O
in	O
an	O
October	O
2017	O
interview	O
that	O
Microsoft	O
and	O
Sony	O
have	O
been	O
in	O
frequent	O
talks	O
for	O
allowing	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
but	O
Sony	O
remains	O
very	O
cautious	O
;	O
he	O
did	O
not	O
consider	O
it	O
a	O
"	O
lost	O
cause	O
"	O
but	O
did	O
state	O
of	O
Sony	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
think	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
fundamental	O
reasons	O
and	O
certain	O
scenarios	O
,	O
they	O
're	O
not	O
really	O
going	O
away	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Documents	O
unveiled	O
in	O
the	O
Epic	O
Games	O
v	O
.	O
Apple	O
case	O
in	O
2021	O
revealed	O
that	O
Epic	O
Games	O
had	O
approached	O
Sony	O
in	O
the	O
months	O
prior	O
to	O
E3	O
2018	O
in	O
June	O
to	O
encourage	O
them	O
to	O
support	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
Fortnite	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
,	O
with	O
Epic	O
proposing	O
a	O
solution	O
that	O
would	O
make	O
it	O
appear	O
as	O
a	O
win-win	O
solution	O
for	O
both	O
companies	O
when	O
they	O
announced	O
it	O
at	O
E3	O
;	O
Epic	O
gaining	O
the	O
player	O
base	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
,	O
and	O
Sony	O
having	O
potentially	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
biggest	O
gaming	O
hits	O
on	O
its	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Fortnite	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
during	O
E3	O
2018	O
,	O
Sony	O
's	O
approach	O
to	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
drew	O
further	O
criticism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
supports	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
across	O
personal	O
computer	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
mobile	O
devices	O
,	O
with	O
players	O
normally	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
a	O
single	O
Epic	O
Games	O
account	O
,	O
which	O
may	O
be	O
linked	O
to	O
a	O
platform-specific	O
account	O
,	O
to	O
carry	O
over	O
progress	O
and	O
purchases	O
between	O
any	O
of	O
those	O
platforms	O
;	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
also	O
works	O
in	O
this	O
same	O
manner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
players	O
found	O
that	O
if	O
their	O
Epic	O
Games	O
account	O
was	O
tied	O
to	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
account	O
,	O
they	O
could	O
not	O
use	O
that	O
profile	O
on	O
the	O
Switch	B-Application
or	O
other	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
requiring	O
them	O
to	O
either	O
create	O
a	O
new	O
Epic	O
account	O
,	O
or	O
unlinking	O
their	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
account	O
from	O
their	O
Epic	O
account	O
which	O
completely	O
resets	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
progress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
also	O
remained	O
limited	O
in	O
only	O
allowing	O
its	O
players	O
to	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
personal	O
computer	O
and	O
mobile	O
devices	O
and	O
not	O
the	O
Switch	B-Application
or	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
affirmed	O
that	O
this	O
was	O
a	O
decision	O
made	O
by	O
Sony	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
otherwise	O
would	O
want	O
to	O
be	O
open	O
to	O
all	O
forms	O
of	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
gamers	O
and	O
even	O
video	O
game	O
journalists	O
accused	O
Sony	O
of	O
forcing	O
the	O
restrictions	O
to	O
prevent	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
players	O
from	O
playing	O
on	O
other	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
stated	O
in	O
response	O
that	O
they	O
are	O
still	O
open	O
to	O
what	O
players	O
wanted	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
With	O
...	O
more	O
than	O
80	O
million	O
monthly	O
active	O
users	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
,	O
we	O
've	O
built	O
a	O
huge	O
community	O
of	O
gamers	O
who	O
can	O
play	O
together	O
on	O
Fortnite	B-Application
and	O
all	O
online	O
titles	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalists	O
took	O
Sony	O
's	O
reaction	O
as	O
a	O
message	O
from	O
Sony	O
that	O
providing	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
on	O
other	O
consoles	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
threat	O
to	O
the	O
market	O
dominance	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
has	O
the	O
current	O
largest	O
number	O
of	O
users	O
compared	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
or	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Smedley	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
president	O
of	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
(	O
now	O
Daybreak	O
Game	O
Company	O
)	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
during	O
his	O
time	O
with	O
Sony	O
,	O
the	O
reason	O
the	O
executives	O
gave	O
him	O
for	O
rejecting	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
support	O
was	O
simply	O
a	O
financial	O
motive	O
,	O
claiming	O
,	O
"	O
they	O
did	O
n't	O
like	O
someone	O
buying	O
something	O
on	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
it	O
being	O
used	O
on	O
a	O
Playstation	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
's	O
stocks	O
fell	O
approximately	O
2%	O
in	O
the	O
days	O
after	O
this	O
event	O
,	O
largely	O
due	O
to	O
outrage	O
from	O
the	O
large	O
Fortnite	B-Application
player	O
base	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
June	O
2018	O
,	O
Sony	O
's	O
Shawn	O
Layden	O
told	O
Eurogamer	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
is	O
evaluating	O
their	O
stance	O
on	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
following	O
the	O
Fortnite	B-Application
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshida	O
reiterated	O
that	O
their	O
decision	O
to	O
not	O
allow	O
for	O
cross-play	O
is	O
to	O
maintain	O
the	O
quality	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
user	O
experience	O
,	O
stating	O
"	O
On	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
,	O
our	O
way	O
of	O
thinking	O
is	O
always	O
that	O
PlayStation	O
is	O
the	O
best	O
place	O
to	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fortnite	B-Application
,	O
I	O
believe	O
,	O
partnered	O
with	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
is	O
the	O
best	O
experience	O
for	O
users	O
,	O
that	O
's	O
our	O
belief.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
few	O
months	O
later	O
,	O
on	O
September	O
26	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
Sony	O
announced	O
it	O
would	O
allow	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
"	O
for	O
select	O
third	O
party	O
content	O
"	O
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
Fortnite	B-Application
that	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
allow	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
was	O
"	O
a	O
major	O
policy	O
change	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
their	O
goal	O
"	O
remains	O
to	O
take	O
a	O
more	O
open	O
stance	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
support	O
that	O
's	O
aligned	O
with	O
our	O
mission	O
to	O
deliver	O
the	O
best	O
consumer	O
experience	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Layden	O
,	O
speaking	O
on	O
a	O
podcast	O
after	O
this	O
change	O
was	O
announced	O
,	O
knew	O
that	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
was	O
a	O
high	O
demand	O
by	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
players	O
,	O
but	O
described	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
very	O
multi-dimensional	O
kind	O
of	O
attribute	O
or	O
feature	O
"	O
that	O
required	O
Sony	O
to	O
look	O
at	O
how	O
to	O
implement	O
this	O
from	O
a	O
technical	O
,	O
business	O
,	O
and	O
customer	O
service	O
point-of-view	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
as	O
revealed	O
in	O
Epic	O
's	O
trial	O
with	O
Apple	O
,	O
Sony	O
still	O
required	O
Epic	O
to	O
pay	O
additional	O
royalty	O
fees	O
for	O
this	O
feature	O
for	O
Fortnite	B-Application
as	O
to	O
"	O
offset	O
the	O
reduction	O
in	O
revenue	O
"	O
Sony	O
believed	O
would	O
occur	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
would	O
incur	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
their	O
success	O
at	O
achieving	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
support	O
through	O
all	O
seven	O
major	O
platforms	O
(	O
Windows	O
,	O
macOS	B-Operating_System
,	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
PlayStation	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
)	O
,	O
Epic	O
offered	O
its	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
development	O
support	O
tools	O
for	O
free	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rocket	B-Application
League	I-Application
soon	O
followed	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
beta	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
option	O
added	O
to	O
all	O
versions	O
in	O
January	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dauntless	B-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
an	O
early	O
access	O
form	O
in	O
May	O
2019	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
joining	O
the	O
existing	O
Windows	O
version	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
launch	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
support	O
across	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
CEO	O
Jim	O
Ryan	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Wired	O
,	O
Sony	O
has	O
moved	O
out	O
of	O
its	O
beta	O
stage	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
and	O
has	O
opened	O
it	O
up	O
to	O
any	O
developer	O
that	O
can	O
support	O
it	O
starting	O
in	O
October	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2020	O
,	O
Epic	O
Games	O
released	O
a	O
free	O
SDK	O
,	O
its	O
Epic	O
Online	O
Services	O
,	O
that	O
allow	O
developers	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
its	O
prior	O
work	O
in	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
to	O
support	O
matchmaking	O
,	O
friends	O
list	O
,	O
achievements	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
features	O
in	O
their	O
games	O
,	O
supporting	O
personal	O
computers	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
systems	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
general	O
,	O
games	O
on	O
mobile	O
devices	O
,	O
though	O
using	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
or	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
operating	O
systems	O
,	O
do	O
not	O
have	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
mobile	O
games	O
that	O
do	O
feature	O
synchronous	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
typically	O
using	O
centralized	O
services	O
to	O
normalize	O
out	O
platform	O
choices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
common	O
example	O
is	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
which	O
enables	O
mobile	O
players	O
to	O
challenge	O
players	O
on	O
any	O
other	O
platform	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
has	O
been	O
released	O
on	O
,	O
including	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
introduced	O
server-side	O
Realms	O
in	O
June	O
2016	O
to	O
enable	O
Minecraft	B-Application
players	O
on	O
Windows	O
,	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
devices	O
to	O
play	O
together	O
,	O
with	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
set	O
to	O
be	O
included	O
in	O
2017	O
and	O
eventually	O
support	O
for	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minecrafts	O
"	O
Bedrock	O
"	O
edition	O
unifies	O
play	O
across	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
mobile	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
versions	O
,	O
with	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
added	O
in	O
December	O
2019	O
,	O
while	O
Fortnite	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
mobile	O
versions	O
were	O
built	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
with	O
computers	O
and	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
forementioned	O
Epic	O
Online	O
Services	O
SDK	O
allows	O
developers	O
to	O
easily	O
integrate	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
into	O
mobile	O
clients	O
using	O
Epic	O
's	O
established	O
backend	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CCP	O
Games	O
have	O
announced	O
they	O
plan	O
to	O
enable	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
for	O
their	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
(	O
VR	O
)	O
title	O
,	O
Eve	B-Application
:	I-Application
Valkyrie	I-Application
,	O
between	O
the	O
three	O
major	O
VR	O
systems	O
:	O
the	O
Oculus	B-Device
Rift	I-Device
,	O
the	O
HTC	O
Vive	O
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
VR	I-Device
.	O
</s>
