Cross-platform play: What does it mean when a game has cross-play?

Cross-platform play, or cross-play, is a feature that allows players playing on different platforms to play alongside each other in the same game. While in the past games usually didn’t have cross-play and you had to play on the same platform as your friend if you wanted to play games in the same lobby, the same doesn’t apply anymore.

For example, players on Xbox ^[1] can join matches with those on PC or PlayStation. While this understandably makes things better for players as they can play alongside their friends who play on other platforms, having cross-play is usually a good thing for the developers too.

After all, not only is the feature a beloved quality-of-life feature that can boost the sales and ratings of a game that has it, but it’s also an excellent way to increase the overall player pool in a competitive game, ensuring the game isn’t called “dead” because of long wait times.

Cross-platform play has become increasingly common in recent years as developers aim to unify player communities across devices. It breaks down traditional barriers, creating a more inclusive gaming experience that encourages friends to play together regardless of their chosen platform. 

Why do FPS games usually not have cross-play?

While games like third-person shooters and online RPGs usually have the cross-play feature, not many competitive FPS games do. Even when they do, most shooters give console players the option to enable or disable the cross-play feature at will.

The reason for this is simple; PC players have a competitive advantage against console players in competitive FPS games. No matter how well a console player playing with a controller may be, a player using a keyboard and mouse will likely still win thanks to the added benefit of easier aiming and higher sensitivity. Therefore, most competitive FPS games like Valorant don’t have the feature.

References

1. [1] "Official Xbox website". xbox.com. Retrieved November 05, 2024