Microsoft Wants The PS4, Xbox One, and PC to Have Cross-Play Multiplayer (Rocket League To Be first Game To implement)

[ShiftHitTheFan]

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Microsoft has announced it will natively support cross-platform play between Xbox One, Windows 10, and other "online multiplayer networks."

 

The move effectively opens the Xbox Live platform so that it can accommodate players on Sony's PlayStation Network, among others.
The announcement was made on Xbox.com by Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox, who said "it's up to game developers to support this feature" and noted that players will "always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players."

 

"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 explained.

"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 consoles and PC networks."

The first game to support the functionality is Psyonix's Rocket League, which will allow Xbox One and PC players to matchmake against each other. Microsoft also extended "an open invitation for other networks to participate as well."

Microsoft:

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Cross-Network Play
First, 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. 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.

Of course, it’s up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players. 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.

 

Creating a Sustainable Marketplace
When we started ID@Xbox, another goal was to make sure we kept the same sustainable marketplace for developers that we had on Xbox 360. We don’t just want to provide a platform to ship games, we want to provide a marketplace where games have the opportunity to sell, so developers can achieve commercial success and keep doing what they love to do – make great games for us to play!

Like all entertainment industries, the game industry is hit-driven, and not every game will be a success. But we’re really happy that a lot of developers are having great financial success on Xbox One. As the director of ID@Xbox, I sign off on every monthly royalty statement to each developer in the program, and getting to sign off on royalty payments to different developers that are five-, six-, seven- or even eight-figures for the month makes me feel good that we’re delivering on that promise to developers. (And to Xbox One players – thanks for your awesome support of independent games!)

 

ID@Xbox on Windows 10
Last year at GDC we announced that we’d be extending ID@Xbox to Windows 10, to support developers who want to include Xbox Live in their Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games. You can already play some great games from ID@Xbox developers with Xbox Live on Windows 10 now (check out Oxenfree, Pinball FX 2, Fire: Ungh’s Quest and Stealth Inc 2), and we’re excited that hundreds of developers have committed to shipping on Windows 10 with Xbox Live. And we’ll see the first titles with cross-play between Xbox One and Windows coming soon. (In fact, a little bird told us that tweeting @idarbgame might get you a token to test out cross-play as part of a soft launch now!)

In other news, Psyonix the rocket league game developer stated that they are very happy about this statement, and will release an update in the spring enabling PS4, PC and xbox cross play.

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Welcome to the new age of online gaming! 

Officially confirmed by our friends at Microsoft earlier today[news.xbox.com], Rocket League and PC/ Xbox One cross-network play will soon become a reality! 

To say that the team here at Psyonix is both honored and excited to have Rocket League as the first cross-network game is a massive understatement. Cross-network play has been the number-one most requested feature our community has asked for since Rocket League was first announced on Xbox One, and now that we are able to pursue complete online unity on all platforms, today's announcement is a dream come true. 

Expect to see Rocket League cross-network play working on Xbox One and PC later this spring, with information regarding other platforms coming soon. 

We can't wait! 

Sources:

Gamespot http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-wants-ps4-and-xbox-one-to-connect-online/1100-6435633/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0b

Microsoft https://news.xbox.com/2016/03/14/letter-chris-charla-idxbox-updates-gdc/

Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/games/252950/announcements/detail/747967771614430345

 

 

I think this is a great idea. Finally games where the servers are not as popular on one platform vs another. For example, In BF4, the Air Superiority gamemode is basically dead on pc, you will never find any servers. But on console, it's alive and well.

 

I can also see how aim assist on controllers could be quite infuriating to pc plays using mice in fps games. Or maybe draw distance on large multiplayer maps being a lot further than the console version, allowing pc players a small advantage.

 

 

 

 

[handymanshandle]

It's a cool idea I guess. 

[atrash]

You should wrote in some your own thoughts on the news posted.

 

I wonder how would they address with the Xbox live subscription when playing from other platforms

[Weak1ings]

They should add this to all games...  Then PC Gamers can play with their friends but also dominate in Multiplayer due to certain advantages like K&M, 144Hz, Further view range etc.

 

If the game gets dumbed down to be "fair," I am not interested.

[The Benjamins]

 

 

[vanished]

this is in like 4 different places now... some properly posted news, some not 

[ChineseChef]

Bring forth the cannon fodder!!!!!!!!

 

And it will finally settle/end those debates about who is the "better" gamers and which platform is "better" for certain game types.

[Arty]

All i seee, is console player getting recketed in online. 

 

I wonder do consoles still get aim assit in this case? 

[ChineseChef]

1 minute ago, Arty said:

All i seee, is console player getting recketed in online. 

 

I wonder do consoles still get aim assit in this case? 

This brings up a huge issue I totally forgot about.  Consoles having much larger hit boxes and aim assist.  Removing these will wreck the console players, but PC players would likely hate having them added.  At the same time, if each platform stayed as it is, it would be inherently "unfair", and would likely be extremely one sided.  Which would aggravate players and create a lot of negative press.  Honestly, with the differences between how FPS console and PC games are usually designed, they aren't really compatible.  All matches would have to be server hosted as well, or cheating will be even worse since PC gamers can mod and hack way better than console guys (usually).

[Arty]

6 minutes ago, ChineseChef said:

This brings up a huge issue I totally forgot about.  Consoles having much larger hit boxes and aim assist.  Removing these will wreck the console players, but PC players would likely hate having them added.  At the same time, if each platform stayed as it is, it would be inherently "unfair", and would likely be extremely one sided.  Which would aggravate players and create a lot of negative press.  Honestly, with the differences between how FPS console and PC games are usually designed, they aren't really compatible.  All matches would have to be server hosted as well, or cheating will be even worse since PC gamers can mod and hack way better than console guys (usually).

Even with the aim assist and larger hit boxes, they are at no advantage. 

They still will get creamed. 

The Controller just is too limiting, in comparison to the mouse and keyboard. 

[Yoinkerman]

Yes this should have been a thing 10 years ago

[ShiftHitTheFan]

1 hour ago, ChineseChef said:

This brings up a huge issue I totally forgot about.  Consoles having much larger hit boxes and aim assist.  Removing these will wreck the console players, but PC players would likely hate having them added.  At the same time, if each platform stayed as it is, it would be inherently "unfair", and would likely be extremely one sided.  Which would aggravate players and create a lot of negative press.  Honestly, with the differences between how FPS console and PC games are usually designed, they aren't really compatible.  All matches would have to be server hosted as well, or cheating will be even worse since PC gamers can mod and hack way better than console guys (usually).

For fps titles, yes. For any non fps game, controllers are just as good as a keyboard. Flying / Driving games prove this quite well. There is nothing like dual analog sticks for flying a jet.

[BuckGup]

In games like GTA V this would be so nice. Half my friends are console peasants 

[ChineseChef]

10 minutes ago, ShiftHitTheFan said:

For fps titles, yes. For any non fps game. Controllers are just as good as a keyboard. Flying / Driving games prove this.

Oh I agree, that's why I said in my first comment that we will finally settle the argument over which is better.  I would be interested to see who has the better average driving/flying game players.  I think PC likely has the "best" players, but they are also likely the guys that spent a few grand on just peripherals.  But I would venture the average console gamer would be better at driving games, just due to the majority of driving games having been more popular on consoles in the past.  Though, I really don't know, I may be way out of the loop on this one.

[AlTech]

I want this so that the tensions between PC, PS4 and XB1 go away and people can pick the platform they want.

 

[elfensky]

This could finally fix the promised Warframe crossplay and whatnot.

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Dang you beat me to it

[Doobeedoo]

As far as 'Only allow it for games where there would be no advantage between platforms' seems reasonable.

[PlayStation 2]

Ehhhhhhh............

[Arty]

1 minute ago, Doobeedoo said:

As far as 'Only allow it for games where there would be no advantage between platforms' seems reasonable.

ithink  they should have 2 options 

Console only multiplayer

 

and cross platform multiplayer 

 

 

problem solved, getting recketed in cross plat

just play on console plat

[Agent181]

YESSSSSSSS I CAN WRECK MORE PEOPLE NOW :DDDD 

 

KEEP SENDING MORE PEOPLE TO DESTROY 

 

CARBALL IS LYFE....

 

dont as how many hours I have on it 

[WolfDeville]

I love Microsoft now

[Trik'Stari]

Let's have more crossplay, so we can demolish that age old myth that controller somehow beats kbm.

[Sharp_3yE]

On 3/9/2016 at 3:40 AM, Crowes said:

The point is, Microsoft uses your account as validation for absolutely everything in their ecosystem, they'd probably force it on this, too. And I don't want to lose this:

 

 

 

5 hours ago, ChineseChef said:

This brings up a huge issue I totally forgot about.  Consoles having much larger hit boxes and aim assist.  Removing these will wreck the console players, but PC players would likely hate having them added.  At the same time, if each platform stayed as it is, it would be inherently "unfair", and would likely be extremely one sided.  Which would aggravate players and create a lot of negative press.  Honestly, with the differences between how FPS console and PC games are usually designed, they aren't really compatible.  All matches would have to be server hosted as well, or cheating will be even worse since PC gamers can mod and hack way better than console guys (usually).

 

5 hours ago, Arty said:

All i seee, is console player getting recketed in online. 

 

I wonder do consoles still get aim assit in this case? 

Guys, this won't be for all games. Only games that the developers make it for. Mostly likely won't be fps games. Most likely. There may be one that does, IDK.

 

2 hours ago, Arty said:

ithink  they should have 2 options 

Console only multiplayer

 

and cross platform multiplayer 

 

 

problem solved, getting recketed in cross plat

just play on console plat

Apparently they said that you will be able to only play with xbox players if you want to or cross platform if cross platform is enabled for that game.

 

One thing I would like to ask and get your feedback on guys.

What if the right analog stick was replaced with a track ball, would a controller then not be at as much of a disadvantage? It would act similar to a mouse which would then have better accuracy.

[Arty]

12 hours ago, TheCMan said:

 

 

Guys, this won't be for all games. Only games that the developers make it for. Mostly likely won't be fps games. Most likely. There may be one that does, IDK.

 

Apparently they said that you will be able to only play with xbox players if you want to or cross platform if cross platform is enabled for that game.

 

One thing I would like to ask and get your feedback on guys.

What if the right analog stick was replaced with a track ball, would a controller then not be at as much of a disadvantage? It would act similar to a mouse which would then have better accuracy.

Honestly controller,  only is best in driving senerios l,  and most pc players have a controller too