Today, cross-platform compatibility is an important factor in a game’s success, as players have a wide selection of devices on which they can play. So in this article, we will take a closer look at cross-platform games and their advantages.
What is Cross-Platform Compatibility
To begin with, it’s important to understand what is cross platform. In short, these are games available on various platforms — currently, the most relevant are: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Of course, some players still use older console versions, such as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
However, it’s important to remember that not all cross platform games allow you to play online with someone using a different device (for example, if you’re on PC and the other player is on PlayStation 5). To do this, the game’s multiplayer mode must also support cross-play, which enables users from different platforms to play in the same lobby.
If we are talking about cross platform computing, then it refers to hardware or software that can operate on different platforms (for example, macOS, Android, Linux).
It’s worth noting that there is no single definition of cross platform compatibility. Often, the term also implies the presence of cross-play.
The Emergence of Cross-Platform Games
The history of cross-platform games began back in the 1990s. The first major project featuring cross-play was Quake III Arena, which allowed players to play together on PC and Dreamcast. Of course, this feature wasn’t particularly popular due to various technical issues and the differing capabilities of the devices.
As a result, throughout most of the 2000s, gamers had to consider multiple factors when choosing a gaming device. For example, which games were currently popular on PS and Xbox, which platform they preferred, which was more affordable, and on which device they could play online with friends. Often, players had to own both a PC and one of the consoles to have access to a larger library of games and more opportunities to play with friends.
Things began to change in the 2010s. Game development technologies started to evolve rapidly, becoming more unified across platforms, and internet infrastructure significantly improved. Thanks to this, more and more games became available on PC, consoles, and even mobile devices.
A major turning point in the development of cross-platform games came with the release of Fortnite. The battle royale game gained massive popularity due to its ability to let players play together regardless of the device they were using. This demonstrated the potential of cross-platform compatibility to companies, and today, nearly all new multiplayer games support cross-play.
Advantages of Cross-Platform Compatibility
Today, almost all new games support cross-platform compatibility, as developers understand that this helps them expand the number of potential buyers for their project. Of course, Sony and Nintendo continue to release their games exclusively for their own platforms. However, in Sony’s case, the company has increasingly started to release PC ports of its exclusives.
An even greater advantage is when a cross-platform game includes cross-play. This allows users on different platforms to compete against each other in multiplayer modes or play together in the same team, lobby, or server.
Naturally, we must also mention cross-saves. This feature allows players to start a game on one device and then continue playing on another without starting over. Thanks to cross-platform saves, you can pick up right where you left off.
So, we can conclude that multiplatform compatibility is an advantage for publishers, as it helps sell more copies and makes the project accessible to a wider audience. It’s also a benefit for players, who no longer need to own a PC, Xbox, and PlayStation simultaneously — one device and cross-platform support are enough.
Disadvantages of Cross-Platform Games
Of course, not everything is perfect with multiplatform games. In online modes, players using a keyboard and mouse sometimes have an advantage over those using gamepads. Additionally, it’s common for console players to have aim assist, which helps them aim more accurately and creates a certain imbalance.
The main issue with cross-platform games is the lack of trust toward PC players. This is due to the fact that PC gamers can use cheats and various third-party software, making it difficult to maintain fair play.
Developers are well aware of both the advantages and drawbacks of these games. That’s why, for example, a PlayStation 5 player can disable cross-platform features in the settings and choose to play only with other PS5 users.
Best Cross-Platform Games
We’ve compiled a list of five best cross platform games. In these titles, you can have a great time with friends without needing to own the same gaming platform.
Minecraft
We’ll start this list with the well-known game Minecraft. This project allows players to bring their building fantasies to life in an open world made of blocks. You can play it on all current platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
It’s important to note that cross-platform play is only available in the Bedrock Edition. This version differs from Java Edition by offering less custom content and lacking many available mods.
Rocket League
Rocket League lets you and your friends compete in fast-paced online matches where you control cars and try to score goals against your opponents. Thanks to Epic ID, full account synchronization is available across platforms. The game is available on PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
One downside is the lack of voice chat during cross-platform play and a limited text chat system.
Apex Legends
The battle royale Apex Legends was developed by Respawn Entertainment and released back in 2019. In this game, your squad of three must search for gear and weapons to survive encounters with other players, while also staying within the shrinking play zone.
The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Thanks to its cross-platform compatibility, Apex Legends is one of the most popular games in its genre, with over 100 million players.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Every video game fan knows the Call of Duty shooter franchise by Activision. At the peak of the battle royale trend, the developers decided to create their own take on the genre based on the well-known series — and thus Warzone was released.
The gameplay is fairly standard: your goal is to be the last surviving team on the map. You can play Warzone on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and 5.
Cross-platform compatibility made the game quite popular worldwide, though not without its issues. The main drawback is the frequent use of cheats by PC players, which negatively affects the gaming experience. Developers have faced significant criticism because of this ongoing problem.
Fortnite
Of course, for many, the best cross-platform game is Fortnite. The game by Epic Games became one of the main hits of 2018–2019, greatly aided by its availability on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and iPadOS.
At the same time, Fortnite still remains a popular battle royale that constantly receives new content from developers. The game has hosted online performances by rappers Travis Scott and Eminem, singer Ariana Grande, DJ Marshmello, and a number of other artists. There are also collaborations with well-known brands and franchises such as DC, Marvel, Star Wars, God of War, Ferrari, Naruto, and many others.
From this, it can be concluded that cross-platform capability is currently one of the key factors in a game’s success. Players do not need to own multiple devices at once, while the publisher gains a wider audience for distributing their games. This is even evidenced by the fact that Xbox is increasingly porting its games to PlayStation consoles.
