The tedious war between console and PC gamers is as old as the rift between handheld and mobile gamers. At the core, we're all here just for the love of the game (literally), so the ultimate goal should be to create one global community. Surprisingly, there may be a solution to this problem that has been sitting under our noses for a long time: cross-play gaming.
While PC, console, handheld and even mobile gamers have been recognized, there is one fragmented group that we forget about. Casino players are quietly growing into their own community, adding another divide between this already large group. The goal is to be inclusive with the “gamer” label, rather than excluding a certain group just because they prefer a higher stakes gaming session. Many digital platforms, including casinos such as Spin Palaceare now producing high-quality, skill-based games that can enable cross-platform integration. In addition, players get access to various promotional rewards, hundreds of real money games and huge bonuses.
Incorporating this into the wider gaming community could blur the lines and give gamers access to these features while still enjoying an RPG or AAA game. Moreover, allowing players to interact with each other, no matter what type of game they enjoy, results in a more inclusive label. Of course, cross-play has a number of other tangible benefits, including increased player retention and overall game health. Ask yourself: when have you ever seen a game turn off despite active, large player base keep doing this?
Games that support cross-platform play will have dedicated communities, meaning it will improve the overall health of the game. Can you also imagine the scale of combined player pools for more popular AAA games that may only be available on one platform? This mass effect (get it?) will lead to faster matchmaking, more competitive leagues and tournaments, and ultimately much higher profits for developers. The biggest benefit will definitely be social freedom. No more “sorry we can't play together because you're on Xbox and I'm not” excuses, making it a lot easier for friends to just enjoy playing together.
However, there are some obstacles standing in the way of this brilliant idea, the main culprits of which are platform holders and corporate silos. While there will certainly be some technical issues that need to be addressed, the challenge comes from a business perspective. Limiting players to a specific platform (in their opinion) this is a great way to control digital storefronts and revenue streams. Essentially, console owners are refusing to give up the golden handcuffs they have placed on their player base because it (in their minds) means giving up their profit pool.
To counter any arguments from platform owners regarding technical barriers, it is important to understand that there are workarounds. Cross-platform account management can be a little tricky, but Epic Games is a good example of how to handle it. Being able to log into the Xbox or PlayStation store with your Steam account (for example) seems like the easiest solution. Another problem could be a mismatch between the inputs, but this can be resolved by quickly updating the settings to allow both devices to function fully. The most pressing issue may be content licensing, as it will require developers to negotiate with each other about how players can connect across platforms.
Contrary to popular belief, gaming has evolved to the point where cross-play is the next necessary step in terms of player engagement. Platform owners can continue their console wars, but isn't it unfair for these companies to force players to toe this imaginary line in the sand?
