Chris Charla, head of Microsoft’s ID@Xbox program, has announced that cross-network play will be coming to Xbox Live. That means players on Xbox One or Windows 10 will be able to connect and play with persons on PSN and other competing online services.
First, 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 console and PC networks.
Of course, it’s up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players. We’re thrilled to confirm that Psyonix’s Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well.
As noted, the first game to support this functionality will be the extremely popular Rocket League from developer Psyonix. Rocket League has supported cross-platform play between the PS4 and PC versions of the game, but the recent Xbox One release has been limited to players on that console. Charla later clarified on Twitter that this new functionality will be available for ALL games, not just ID@Xbox titles—should developers want it, that is.
So does that mean we’ll see Xbox One players square off against PS4 owners in future Call of Duty titles? In the next Battlefield or FIFA game? It’s difficult to say at the moment but the possibility is exciting nonetheless.
