Why is Sony the Last Hurdle For Cross Platform / Cross Network Play?

Cross network play between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is something we want to see. It's something you want to see. We all want it to happen.

Cross network play between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is something we want to see. It’s something you want to see. We all want it to happen. This feature will make history as for the first time players on these two platform will come together.

We are so close to achieving this and probably the first game to allow it would be Rocket League. The developer is ready to go with cross network play and claims that it can implement this feature within a business day. Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red has a similar claim and is ready to allow cross platform play.

However, Sony is the primary hurdle when it comes to actually implementing this feature. In fact, even Microsoft is on board and has given the go-ahead. It would take only a few days to set everything up it seems but according to Sony, it is “complicated.”

It is hard to understand why?

President of Sony Worldwide Studios previously said:

Because PC is an open platform it’s much more straightforward. Connecting two different closed networks is much more complicated so we have to work with developers and publishers to understand what it is they are trying to accomplish.

We also have to look at the technical aspect – and the technical aspect could be the easiest. We also have to look at policy issues and business issues as well.

I can’t help but compare this situation to when Sony said it is “complicated” to allow PSN name changes. To this day, a gamer is stuck with “Pussy_Destroyer” as a PSN handle.

It seems either Sony wants to stay clear of all things “complicated” or it is just not in the company’s best interest to allow cross network play.

You have to agree PSN is not the most efficiently designed network and often suffers from issues, crumbles under load. Having cross network play may further strain PSN – we may see connection issues, downtime etc. May be PSN is just not ready for such a feature. Well, that is one theory!

Of course, it is possible that Sony is just not interested since there is no incentive. The company is already in the lead and on its way to winning this console generation and having such a feature may encourage developers to make more Xbox games.

Cross platform play is in our best interest but even though Sony has a consumer friendly reputation, our best interests may not always align. Sony is yet to comment on the matter but we’ll let you know of their side of the story soon.

Sarmad is our Senior Editor, and is also one of the more refined and cultured among us. He's 25, a finance major, and having the time of his life writing about videogames.