Xbox Live Now Supports Cross-Platform Multiplayer With PS4 (techcrunch.com)

An anonymous reader writes from an article on TechCrunch: Microsoft just announced that game developers can now create cross-platform multiplayer modes that work with other consoles and operating systems. So it means that the next Call of Duty or FIFA could feature a multiplayer mode that works with both Xbox and Playstation gamers. It just depends on developers now. Microsoft has historically restricted cross-platform play as the Xbox Live was the first successful multiplayer network for consoles. And yet, Microsoft is now lagging behind the Playstation 4 with its Xbox One. By opening up cross-platform multiplayer, Microsoft could convince late adopters to buy an Xbox One even though their friends have a PlayStation 4. It's also a way to make sure that there are enough plays for less popular games. It's unclear how developers are supposed to deal with duplicated PlayStation Network and Xbox Live screen names.

Comments

Why would Sony Agree?

[oic0]

Microsoft needs this because they have lost the market share battle. Why on earth would Sony agree though? They only stand to lose sales, not make gains.

Finally

[Archfeld]

I'd love to be able to finally silence my console retarded brother and his buddies in a true first person shooter environment. I am so tired of hearing how they think they are superior players when I can see them unable to perform movements and shots that are regular things amongst PC gamers. I've been a 1st person shooter lover and a pretty dang good player since Unreal Tournament came out and our team started having organized practices many years ago. UT offered the option for combo shots that detonated for extra bang, such as the pulse rifle and the ability to shoot the nuke flown by another team member, and we could and did regularly do it. That kind of precision is rarely seen in console games, not that there aren't some out there more than capable. Note I am not nearly as dexterous now as I was 20 years ago, and I hate console controllers so I just don't play them, but I've watched a lot of my younger brother and his friends play such and listened to them crow on about how good they are but they won't get on the PC and I don't own a either console, so my opinion 'might' be a bit slanted, and I am an old guy, so get off my lawn.