Microsoft has made a big announcement today that’s going to impact how Xbox owners play online. The company has hinted at allowing cross-network play and today it has announced just that.
Rocket League will be one of the first titles to support the new cross-network play, and Microsoft notes there is an “open invitation for other networks to participate as well,” strongly hinting that Sony or other console manufacturers could enable gamers to play their friends regardless of what device they’re using.
We’re thrilled to confirm that Psyonix’s Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well
In addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we’re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well
If developers and console makers get behind Microsoft’s support of cross-network play then it will change the shape of games in the future. Currently, console gamers are restricted to playing titles on the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live, and many pick an Xbox One or PS4 based on what their friends purchased. Opening up online multiplayer gaming across different platforms will remove a big restriction in console gaming, but it will also create a conversation around which titles should allow PC gamers to play against consoles.
