For a little while, it felt like we were finally going to be breaking down the barriers between platforms, as Microsoft opened up to the notion of cross-platform play in the middle of last year. Some developers like Rocket League’s Psyonix understandably got quite excited about this and were quick to implement Xbox One to PC play, but stumbled into a Sony that basically don’t feel like actively fostering this functionality.
With Tekken 7 a few months away from release, fans have been badgering Game Director Katsuhiro Harada to see if the game might be breaking down these cross-platform barriers. Sadly, that won’t be happening, not even between console and PC, and he pins the blame solely on the console manufacturers.
It seems that neither Sony nor Microsoft are willing to allow their consoles to coexist in a peer to peer environment, requiring that the developers set up dedicated servers. Where there’s console exclusivity, such as in Street Fighter V or Killer Instinct, there’s not such restrictions.
All of this questioning did make him a little grumpy though, closing out tweets on the matter by saying “Don’t ask me again,” and “I’m so tired about your guys.” Harada-san is basically my spirit animal when I don’t want to talk about something.
What’s interesting about all of this is that it would seem that it suggests that games like Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 could have cross-platform play. Of course, it’s never quite that simple, especially when you consider timed exclusivity on DLC and how major companies partner with one another, but we now know another of the hurdles that games need to overcome
Source: Katsuhiro Harada, via PlayStation LifeStyle
Starman
Don’t think it will ever happen. It’s always the lesser platform that wants it, because it rules out people opting for the other system just to play multiplayer with their friends. Last gen Sony were up for it, now they’re winning they’re not.
kjkg
Very good point. Never thought of that. I’ve never really understood the desire for it from a personal point of view anyway.
Stefan L
I think all it will take is one company that’s not too big and not too small, has the right kind of game and is willing to jump through the technical hoops. It will never be the rule of thumb, I don’t think, but it could possibly happen. I certainly hope it does!