How cross platforms changed the online gaming world

Long gone are the days when you and your friends had to make sure that you both got the same new console to make certain that you could play multiplayer together; otherwise, what was the point? Now, cross-platform gaming is the norm, and it has broken down barriers allowing more and more users to be able to play online mobile games while their friends may be playing the same game on PC or console.

Cross-platform games have not only made it easier for players but also means those game companies are able to push out the same updates for all users, no matter the platform, allowing for a much more seamless gaming experience. To find out more about cross-platform gaming and how it has benefitted the online gaming community, keep reading below!

Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/analytics-cross-platform-mobile-2156083/ 

What is Cross-Platform Gaming?

If you’re new to the gaming community, or simply haven’t heard this term before, cross-platform gaming or cross-play means that users can play any multiplayer game online, regardless of the device being used, as long as the game supports it. 

This can apply to apps, software, and games, and cross-platform typically means that you don’t have to take any extra steps to be able to start playing your game of choice instantly. If you want to play a game on mobile, another friend could instantly load up the same game on PC, and a third friend could jump on PS5, etc.

The Start of Online Cross-Platform Gaming

Now that we know what it is, it’s worth looking at when it first came about. Final Fantasy XI was the first online game that allowed users to play from multiple different platforms – PC, PS2, and Xbox 360. Over 200,000 players logged in on a daily basis, and it holds the title of being one of the most popular MMORPG titles in Japan even today.

If we go back in time a little further before consoles had built-in internet or online gaming being a common concept in general, then the 1998 Sega Dreamcast console was one of the first times that cross-platform was ever attempted. Working alongside Microsoft, the built-in modem of the Dreamcast was utilized to make games like Quake 3 Arena, 4×4 Evo, and Phantasy Star Online playable across platforms. 

Another platform that expanded from its original system is Valve’s Steam. Although initially built exclusively for Windows, in 2010, they expanded their system to include OS X systems. In 2013, they expanded once more to cover Linux and SteamOS. This expansion made cross-platform play possible, and more and more users could join in and play with one another.

Hardware Developments

One of the issues that came from cross-platform gaming was that every user was operating their game using not only different consoles/platforms but also different controllers. So how could one set of controls be applied to both a Playstation user and a PC user who uses a keyboard and mouse as their main source of controls? 

Developers found a middle ground for both joystick lovers and traditional keyboard players alike by adding mods to console controllers such as aim assist so that they could play on a level playing field alongside PC gamers.

And if players mainly use a console as their main platform, then there’s also the option to play via a controller on a PC; this will automatically adjust the controls and give you the option to modify the settings to whatever feels familiar and comfortable to you.

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/video-games-joystick-games-1557358/ 

Games That Support Cross-Platform

So, now that you know that cross-platform play is possible, what games are there on the market that have a really seamless co-op experience, regardless of which device it is being played on?

Genshin Impact

Upon release in 2020, the action role-playing game from MiHoYo was originally released for PS4, Windows, iOS, and Android with a release for the PS5 following the next year, and with plans for it also to be released on the Nintendo Switch eventually.

The open-world game is excellent to play with your friends. No matter the device, you’re able to jump into one another’s worlds, complete commissions, domains and help collect ascension materials that might have been much more time-consuming if you attempted it alone.

Fortnite 

With over 350 million players across the world, it comes as no surprise that Fortnite is also one of the big titles that are cross-platform and can be played on consoles (including the Switch), PC, and even mobile devices.

The free-to-play battle royale continues to grow more and more popular by the day, and a lot of that success can be attributed to the fact that it is cross-platform, allowing more users to join in on the fun while voice chatting in a group and battling it out with other teams.

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/fortnite-workplace-video-game-pc-4077483/ 

Dead By Daylight

Another top title; this survivor horror game was first released on Steam and Microsoft Windows in 2016, followed by PS4 and Xbox One in 2017, Nintendo Switch in 2019, iOS, Android, and Stadia in 2020, and the next-gen consoles in the later part of 2020.

Behaviour Interactive quickly realized that to reach a greater audience, cross platforms are one of the easiest ways to spread the word, and the 1 vs. 4 game really benefits from being able to be played on multiple devices.