As part of the ongoing GDC 2016 conference, Microsoft simply did their best impression of walking up the stage, doing their thing and then dropping the mic. In a first ever, for anyone, Microsoft has announced that they are adding Cross-Network play support for Windows 10 and Xbox One gamers that use Xbox Live. So what does that mean for you and me? Potentially that means that Microsoft has given the tools to developers that would let them create a game that would allow not just Xbox gamers but Windows 10 and even, get ready for this, even gamers on the PlayStation Network or other gaming networks. Yep, you read that correctly.
Cross-Network Play
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.
Obviously this is still up to the developers to do this and that also would require some work and some blessing from Sony, but given that they even announced this is mind blowing.
I have to say I did not expect to see this happen during my gaming life time and it’s very cool to see someone actually attempt to break down the virtual borders and let all gamers to play together, regardless of platform. Now I wonder who’s going to be the first developer to actually put this into action.
Source: http://news.xbox.com/2016/03/14/letter-chris-charla-idxbox-updates-gdc/
