Sony May Alter the Cross-Play Deal Further, Company 'Confident' in Finding Solution
Sony CEO Shawn Layden feels confident that the company will find a cross-play solution that both satisfies fans and supports the business.
Cross-play is always in the video game news these days, and it seems like Sony is always on the butt end of the matter. For whatever reason, the PlayStation 4 and the people in charge of its development just don't seem keen on making true cross-platform support work. The PlayStation 4 is essentially the only modern game hardware that doesn't fully support it, and judging to the latest reports, that probably isn't going to change any time soon.
While on-site at a Gamelab conference held in Spain, Eurogamer met with Sony Interactive America president and CEO Shawn Layden to ask if there were any plans to open up cross-play functionality. Layden stated that he'd provide "one short statement" on the matter:
"We're hearing it. We're looking at a lot of the possibilities. You can imagine that the circumstances around that affect a lot more than just one game. I'm confident we'll get to a solution which will be understood and accepted by our gaming community, while at the same time supporting our business."
The last time that Sony officially addressed the matter was following reports that the PlayStation 4 blocked Fortnite cross-play between the PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The official company response at the time was pure PR, stating that Fortnite on the PS4 fully supported cross-play with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android — notably leaving the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch off the docket.
According to former Sony developer John Medley, the cross-play issue comes down to money, with Medley saying on Twitter (via Eurogamer) that "[Sony] didn't like someone buying something on an Xbox and it being used on a PlayStation. [Simple] as that."
The problem with this line of thinking is that in an ever-evolving video games market, players will support those devices which offer the games and features they most desire. Sony has been doing well this console generation on the games front, but if they continue to refuse to offer the modern cross-play support that players want, they shouldn't expect to stay in those players' good graces for very long. Wanting to find a solution that specifically benefits the company is all well and good on paper, but if fans jump ship to another platform in the meantime, the solution they're so confident in finding will ultimately count for very litte.
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replyKevin Tucker posted a new article, Sony May Alter the Cross-Play Deal Further, Company 'Confident' in Finding Solution
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Sony Exec 1: What's the solution to our cross play problem?
Sony Exec 2: Stop being dicks about it?
Sony Exec 1: Problem solved! -
"We're hearing it. We're looking at a lot of the possibilities. You can imagine that the circumstances around that affect a lot more than just one game. I'm confident we'll get to a solution which will be understood and accepted by our gaming community, while at the same time supporting our business."
Translation: " Stop asking me this question. Go Away. We're not changing it." -
Sony is slowly coming to terms with the fact that the hit to their reputation won't be worth whatever benefits come from keeping their community walled in
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I heard they're planning on making Vita memory cards cheaper too. I'm still waiting on that one.
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They'll just charge extra for it.
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