Introduction
Here’s what you need to know about the epic saga of cross-platform play.
The start of the console wars
The first console war began in 1983 with the release of the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom), which would later be renamed to the Family Computer or Famicom for short. A year later, Sega released their own console called the SG-1000 (Sega Gam*Boy), also known as the Mark I and Mark II before it was discontinued in 1985.
In 1985, Nintendo launched their second home video game console called NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in Japan, which was later released in North America during 1986 with the name “NES” followed by Europe and Australia during 1987 – 1988 with names like: Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum 128K/+2A/72K+, Amstrad CPC464/464+/664/+2A/+3A/+4A/+5A; Atari ST520ST1040ST1040ST2040ST2051ST2543ST3251(and some others as well) Atari PC Jr., ColecoVision Expansion Module #1 & Expansion Module #2; Oric Atmos 65C+65D+65E+65F+, Dragon 32/64; Dragon Data Handy Board 486DX-33(Engineering Sample Only); Amiga 500(and many others) Amstrad GX4000; MSX 2
Gaming’s future is bright
Video games are big business. In the US alone, the video game industry brings in $22 billion a year and is expected to surpass $30 billion by 2020. There are over 2 billion gamers worldwide who play on everything from smartphones and tablets to consoles like PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch. Gaming can be played by people of all ages, from small children to senior citizens.
The gaming world has evolved rapidly over the last decade or two with new technologies allowing more interactivity with games as well as more freedom for players’ actions within them (e.g., an open world setting). The latest development in this evolution is cross-platform play between PC/Mac and console gaming platforms such as PS4 Pro , XBox One S & XBox One X .
Cross-platform play
Cross-platform play is exactly what it sounds like: the ability to play a game on a console, then switch to your mobile device, and then switch back to the console. It’s still in its early stages of testing but has already seen use in games like Fortnite and Rocket League. The concept is still in its infancy, so there are some limitations; for example, you can’t play an Xbox One game with someone on PC if they’re using mouse and keyboard controls. However, these restrictions will likely be eliminated as cross-platform features mature over time.
Cross platform play
Cross platform play is a game-changing technology that allows players to compete with each other regardless of their platform. It’s also the first step toward a truly unified online gaming community, which we’ve all been waiting for since games like Halo 3 introduced us to the concept in 2007.
The new technology was pioneered by Microsoft and Sony at E3 2019, where they announced that cross-platform play would be available for select titles on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 within the next few months. This means that you’ll soon be able to play Fortnite with your friends on your PS4 controller while chatting through your headset—or playing Rocket League with friends who own an Xbox One S console while speaking through Discord voice chat software. If you’re looking forward to these options, then keep reading.
In the end, everyone wins when gaming companies work together.
The technology is new and exciting, but it’s not perfect. There are still some kinks to be worked out, like the fact that PS4 and Xbox One gamers can currently only play together in limited situations. However, both Microsoft and Sony have promised to continue their partnership with each other as they work towards a more permanent solution.
In the end, everyone wins when gaming companies work together: players get access to more games than ever before; console manufacturers get an influx of new customers; and the gaming industry as a whole benefits from increased competition between consoles.
Conclusion
In the end, everyone wins when gaming companies work together to make innovative products that bring people together. The same technology that allows PS4 and Xbox One gamers to play with each other is being used by Microsoft in their HoloLens gaming device. This kind of cross-platform technology has the potential to change the way we play games, and will likely open up new possibilities for gaming as a form of entertainment. We’re excited about what this might mean for our favorite hobby, and look forward to seeing what other ways technology can improve our enjoyment of video games!
