Xbox One to get cross-platform/network play with Windows 10, PS4

Rejoice Xbox One owners! Microsoft is finally going to allow game developers to support cross-platform and cross-network play between the Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC and/or “other consoles” (obviously the PS4 in this case).

Sony has allowed similar functionality between the PS4 and PC for some time now (Final Fantasy XIV, Rocket League, Street Fighter V), but Microsoft has resisted for unknown reasons… until now. Chris Charla, the Director of ID@Xbox, broke the news via the Xbox Wire this morning.  Very cool!

The first title to support this new initiative is Psyonix’s Rocket League.  There’s no timeframe on when cross-network/platform play will be coming to the Xbox One version as of yet.

Read on for the relevant info from the ID@Xbox GDC Xbox Wire post.

Cross-Network Play
First, in addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we?re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well. This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks ? including other console and PC networks.

Of course, it?s up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players. We?re thrilled to confirm that Psyonix?s Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well.