PlayStation finally starts expanding cross-play, starting with Fortnite

In a not-so-surprising turn of events, it seems that Sony has decided that cross-play with other platforms may be a feature worth exploring.

This morning, the PlayStation blog released an official announcement that they will be beginning the journey on the path to expanding cross-platform to include many different platforms. This will, of course, all start with Fortnite.

Although there are no extensive details, the blog post specifies the cross-platforms implementation will start in a beta period using Fortnite as the testing ground. The cross-platform support will include gameplay, progression, and commerce, which aligns with how Fortnite interacts between other platforms currently.

I think this is a great move for Sony, and I think that it makes plenty of sense to start with Fortnite. Given the massive popularity of the game, and the fact that Sony's already received plenty of pushback for their lack of cross-play support and the previous fiasco with the Fortnite release on Switch. Hopefully, the beta goes smoothly and more games get cross-play support in the future.

Feel free to check out the full Sony blog post in the additional information section.

Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content. We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution.

The first step will be an open beta beginning today for Fortnite that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac operating systems. We see the beta as an opportunity to conduct thorough testing that ensures cross-platform play is best on PlayStation, while being mindful about the user experience from both a technical and social perspective.

For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective. Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.

This represents a major policy change for SIE, and we are now in the planning process across the organization to support this change. We will update the community once we have more details to share, including more specifics regarding the beta timeframe, and what this means for other titles going forward.