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Sony Doesn't Need Cross Platform Gameplay


Recently both Microsoft and Nintendo have revealed that they'll allow cross platform multiplayer in Minecraft. This means PC players, Xbox players and Switch players will all be able to play together seamlessly. One party absent from the agreement was Sony. Previously Sony refused as well when Rocket League was expanded to cross-platform. A lot of people are upset at this move and don't understand why Sony would deny this option to it's users. The answer is really simple, they just don't have to.

I don't mean that in the sense of it's their console and they can do whatever they want with it. I mean it in the sense that cross platform gameplay does nothing for Sony. Both Microsoft and Nintendo have something to gain from the alliance that Sony doesn't.

Microsoft has a large amount of Xbox users, this is true and can't be disputed. But, take a look at the games that are available to Xbox users. Majority of this games are shooters, often in some kind of war or post apocalyptic setting. These games have huge players bases online because that's what most people buy an Xbox for. Most of the Xbox exclusives fall into this genre, so while a few may buy an Xbox for a game like Sunset Overdrive, most are going to be buying one for Halo, Gears of War, Crackdown and so on. It's a shooters console. This often leaves the lobbies for other games empty and players searching for hours to team up with someone else.

At the time of writing this, the Nintendo Switch hasn't been out long, but it's popular. The problem with Nintendo is that this is their first console in almost a decade that hasn't specifically been marketed to children. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Here's a Wii commercial, a Wii U commercial, a 3DS commercial, and lastly a Switch commercial. Did you spot the difference? Switch is the only one of these that doesn't feature children as one of the main targets in at least one segment, in fact, it features no children. Sure, if you watch the extended cut version that's now 3 times as long as the original there are children, but that's not the one that airs on TV and it's not the one that ran during the Superbowl. Nintendo has become viewed as makers of children's consoles and they wish to shake that view of them.

Sony on the other hand has a catalogue of games so diverse that it would rival the cast of a CW Superhero show. Sure there are shooters, but there's also adventure games, mystery games and so on. I'm not saying other consoles don't have these, because they do. I'm saying, Sony doesn't focus on just one genre of these games and constantly marketed themselves as what a real gamers console should be. Not just with the PS4 generation either. Sure Sony had the Move, but remember when the Switch came out and Sony was poking fun at them for their lack of buttons. What about their YouTube campaign of #ForThePlayersSince1995 that's a long hashtag, especially because YouTube doesn't do those. However, the campaign was effective.

See, Microsoft needs PC players and Nintendo players to fill up some of that empty space in their game lobbies. These people aren't going to have a great time playing with people on Xbox and go buy one. Nintendo needs this because it'll allow their users to compete with fanbases that are known to be serious gamers. Sony would gain nothing from this. If there's one thing Sony needs to be working on for the future it's backwards compatibility instead of remasters. They'd gain fans for that, but nobody is selling their PS4 because they can't play Minecraft with a guy using a Switch.

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet. You can also check out his playthrough of Sleeping Dogs or Skyrim
Darrell S.

Hey, I write stuff, a lot of different stuff, that's all.

3 Comments

  1. You're becoming better as a writer. I really liked this piece as well. -Tai

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  2. Not sure how lobbies for "other" games are empty. Never had such problems playing a host of non-shooters on Xbone.

    It's true though, at the end of the day crossplay is a sales decision. If there are 10 friends and 2 have an Xbone, what would the incentive for those 2 be to buy a PS if there's cross platform? Sony wants to back their own sales.

    As butthurt as some people are Microsoft and Nintendo wouldn't be pushing cross platform if they were ahead. Only thing I don't care for is the disingenuous way it was put forward by Sony regarding safety etc. Just be honest or push your own brand when you do, no need to make shit up.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Sony really could have worded it much better. There was no need to blame a security risk at all. It's 100% about forcing people to move over to PlayStation to play with their friends.

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