PlayStation Network and Xbox Live players competing in the very same match?!
Impossible, right?
Well, maybe not: An announcement made on Xbox.com by director of ID@Xbox Chris Charla is making waves throughout the industry, because it has essentially opened up the possibility of cross-platform play between Sony and Microsoft's online gaming services. The Xbox manufacturer revealed that it will natively support cross-platform play between Xbox One, Windows 10, and other "online multiplayer networks," which would include the PSN. Charla added that it will be up to developers to support this new feature:
"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 consoles and PC networks."
The first title to support this feature will be the remarkably huge Rocket League , which will let Xbox One and PC players throw down against each other. Microsoft has extended "an open invitation for other networks to participate as well." Currently, Psyonix's smash hit supports cross-platform play between the PS4 and PC versions.
This could open up all sorts of possibilities moving forward, and further begs the question: Will we one day have a universal online service and a universal game console to go with it? Many have predicted this would happen at some point, and maybe they're right.
