This monday, Microsoft announced that it is going to allow the cross-platform play, or “crossplay” feature between the Xbox One and Windows PCs, and they are also taking in consideration other consoles as well.
Microsoft’s Chris Charla, the director of the ID@Xbox independent gaming program at Microsoft said in an open letter that the popular game Rocket League from Psyonix is going to be the first game to try the new crossplay feature between PC and Xbox One users.
Charla said that everyone should expect a lot more from this cross-platform feature, it’s going to become a trend and expand the Xbox’s One potential.
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. Charla wrote “This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks—including other console and PC networks.”
It’s not clear what those “other console and PC networks” are, but the PlayStation 4 and SteamOS seem like good guesses. Rocket League supports both, and a port to Apple’s OS X is also in the works.
Windows 10 and Xbox One a way closer
Crossplay is Microsoft’s latest step in bringing the Windows 10 PC and the Xbox One closer together, complete with an overhaul of the Xbox One interface to bring it more in line with Windows 10; and the Xbox app on Windows 10, which allows PC players to remotely control and play the console. Microsoft’s recent game Quantum Break allows players to share saves between the PC and console, so they can pick up and play on either platform.
This feature where players will be able to compete against other platforms is completely new to Microsoft. It’s worth noting, however, that Sony has supported this capability, and with Rocket League, too: PC gamers can already play PS4 gamers in real time.
Source: PC World