The best crossplay games make it easy to play with all of your friends, regardless of where they're playing. They also help with picking up your game on a different platform without hing to start over, and they show that playing together doesn’t he to be restricted to your setup.
The term crossplay, or cross-platform-play, describes a feature that lets you either play a game with someone who owns a different gaming platform from you. This is great new particularly for people who play games like Battle Royales, games that people used to predominantly play on PC but that are now ailable on every platform imaginable. No need for console wars – as you can play Fortnite with friends on Xbox Series X even if you he a PS5, for example.
Crossplay isn’t easy for developers to implement, but more and more games come with crossplay, especially large multiplayer games. Not all games on this list may offer crossplay across all platforms (yet), but we he picked games that allow crossplay on at least two platforms.
Best crossplay gamesWhy you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at AmazonView at Fanatical(PC)View at LoadedView at GamersGateReasons to buy+Incredible sound design+Perfect world building+multiplayer experiences you'll want to tell your friends about+A blast solo and with friendsReasons to oid-Cosmetics are a bit dull-Why do I need to write this review? I just want to play more Arc RaidersWhy we love it"Arc Raiders is the first extraction shooter that truly feels built for everyone. It blends tension, atmosphere, and unexpected humanity into a world that begs you to risk it all for one more haul. Arc Raiders captures the magic that made us fall in love with multiplayer gaming in the first place. It’s polished, accessible, and impossible to put down. This is truly one of the year’s absolute best." - John-Anthony Disotto, reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Arc Raiders is a very potent mix of extraction shooter and social experiment. As you go on Raids, either solo or in a squad, you'll encounter other Raiders and he to decide what to do with them. You could oid them completely, take them out on sight, or negotiate trades and possibly a Team Up. It's this tension that makes Arc Raiders so damned compelling.
The PvE element is just as good, with intelligent and versatile enemies in the ARC. These will detect you from afar, alert others, and move in for the kill. Even the smallest and weakest of ARC enemies can kill you, so deciding when and how to engage is key to survival. Of course, more powerful enemies drop essential loot, so sooner or later you he to gear up and attempt to take them down. It's a wonderful balancing act of risk and reward, and one that makes Arc Raiders very difficult to put down.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at AmazonView at WalmartView at WalmartReasons to buy+Meaningful community-driven tweaks to gameplay+Authentic mode gives offline gamers a new way to play+Manager Live breathes new life into Career ModeReasons to oid-New Archetype progression system in Clubs will prove divisiveWhy we love it"EA Sports FC 26 is a veritable smorgasbord of well-refined modes, improved gameplay mechanics, and never-better player likenesses. No single upgrade defines the experience, but offline players will feel particularly grateful for this year's litany of realism-focused changes." - Alex Metz, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
EA Sports FC 26 once again iterates on a winning formula, though this year's changes definitely feel better than many in recent memory. Our FIFA reviewer Alex Metz said in their EA Sports FC 25 review: “it feels like we’ve reached a point where the overall FC experience is so good that it’s hard to chastise EA for making small improvements to an already excellent foundation." pointing to another solid follow up here.
Generally, EA Sports FC 26 has folded in improvements that directly answer some of the common criticisms leveled at the series by fans. Gameplay is better than ever, with reduced bounce-backs, better dribbling, and improved headers. As always, you can play EA Sports FC 26 crossplay with a wide range of players. Be aware that while the game is also ailable on Switch 2, there's no crossplay.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at AmazonView at Green Man GamingView at WalmartView at GamersGateReasons to buy+Genuinely good writing+Loot chase feels better than ever+Open world is a natural fit+Vault Hunter skills are varied and fun+Surprisingly good soundtrackReasons to oid-Side objective rewards can be underwhelming-PC performance needs work-Some very obnoxious enemy modifiers-I'd love a photo modeWhy we love it"Borderlands 4 surprised me. After not gelling with the series’ prior two entries, the fourth mainline instalment provides some of the most fun I’ve ever had with the quirky looter shooter. Its characters are well-written and not lacking in charm, but most importantly, Gearbox has achieved something I thought impossible: making Claptrap likeable. Some performance issues do need ironing out - especially on PC - and I wish some of the side challenges were a bit more fulfilling. But overall, this is easily the best Borderlands has ever been; yes, even when stacked up to the iconic first sequel." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Borderlands 4 is something of a course correction after the muted reception around Borderlands 3. It pairs back the meme-hey humor, and dials up the focus on looting and shooting. This decision has turned out to be exactly what the series needed, and Borderlands 4 is the best the series has ever felt. Gunplay is tight, missions are varied, and characters stand out without overstepping. Through crossplay, you can play with friends on any platform, too.
The biggest divergence in Borderlands 4 is its move to an open world. Outside of dedicated instances like vaults and end-of-chapter fortresses, the map is almost entirely seamless - the planet Kairos’s three major biomes connected in circular fashion. It's seriously impressive, and well worth exploring with your friends.
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at Amazon(Black)View at WalmartView at WalmartView at WalmartReasons to buy+Broad, accessible control schemes+World Tour mode rules+Seamless online functionality+Excellent, diverse base rosterReasons to oid-Difficulty spikes in World Tour-Microtransaction supportWhy we love it"It took a while for Street Fighter 6 to arrive, and for good reason. The final product is slickly polished, packed with modes and headlined by its feature-rich online Battle Hub and ambitious single player World Tour. It’s a fighting game for everyone, with multiple control styles and vast accessibility options." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Street Fighter 6 is now on Switch 2, and it's all crossplay with other consoles and PC. We absolutely love SF6, and still spend countless hours loading in to battle players online. It's possibly the best fighting game released in the last 10 years, and that's really saying something considering just how many great fighting games there he been recently.
There's been a bunch of post-launch updates too, including new fighters to master. If you're more of a solo player, World Tour is surprisingly fun, and has just the right amount of Street Fighter wackiness. One of the things I've enjoyed is being able to fight with friends of all levels. Street Fighter 6 is a very accessible game, meaning even new players can dial in certain settings and level the playing field.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsCheck AmazonCheck WalmartReasons to buy+Seemingly endless array of varying game mechanics+Stunning art direction, level, and world design+An epic crescendo that seamlessly mixes cinematics and gameplayReasons to oid-Puzzles could be more challenging-Changing perspectives can be jarringWhy we love it"Split Fiction is the third co-op game from Hazelight Studios and arguably its largest and most imaginative to date. It packs an array of captivating mini-games into a linear, yet highly rewarding platformer, laced with Hazelight’s trademark storytelling to keep you on your moral toes. Players will he fun recognizing the vast pop culture references that he been peppered throughout Split Fiction, which deliver a unique twist whilst nostalgically returning us to the early days of gaming." - Amelia Schwanke, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Split Fiction is a fantastic crossplay game that offers a Friend Pass, allowing a friend ton join you on any platform, without a copy of the game. Much like It Takes Two and A Way Out, Hazelight's Split Fiction is designed as a two-player experience from the ground up. It's the studio's best game yet, blending futuristic sci-fi with fantasy epic-stylings as part of a surprisingly emotional story.
Whether you're playing on console or PC, you can play Split Fiction online with pals. It's a brilliant multiplayer game, and one that offers something quite unique in the genre. This is a fully co-op campaign with each player taking control of a character for the duration. It's a real standout, and completely unlike any other game on this list.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at Ace HardwareView at Best BuyView at AmazonView at Nordstrom(Red)Reasons to buy+A darkly compelling fantasy world +Fluid combat that scales well in single and multiplayer+Endlessly customizable charactersReasons to oid-Brief story sections left me wanting moreWhy we love it"Perhaps Diablo 4’s most adventurous quality is the move towards an open world in the 'modern' sense. What could he been a featureless, bland expanse is, instead, a delight. Brimming with intrigue and danger, the open world of Sanctuary fits the Diablo formula like a glove, providing the space in which the game’s macabre aesthetic and bold mechanical design cohere beautifully." - Cat Bussell, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC
Diablo 4 takes a bold step forward for the long-running action RPG series. This time, there's an open world to explore, one that unfolds and changes as you slowly chip away at it. The core Diablo loop remains true, however, and you'll be spending most of your time slaying hordes of enemies to earn skill points and upgrade materials. From there, it's all about specializing your character, with a huge amount of variety on offer.
Now, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is out, a huge expansion that we liked a lot. All of this is ailable in crossplay between all platforms, meaning you can squad up and dungeon dive alongside your pals.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at AmazonView at TargetView at Best BuyView at WalmartReasons to buy+Seamless open world+Seasonal changes are breathtaking to behold+Campaign is all killer, no filler+Bringing along a second weapon is a true game-changer+New Focus Mode is the best addition in over a decadeReasons to oid-Lack of a central hub does rob the game of some charm-Visuals can be inconsistent with some areas looking washed out.Why we love it"Monster Hunter Wilds is a bold and bustling continuation of its predecessor’s approach to streamlining the once-niche series. By stripping away some of the more frustrating elements of the past, and focusing on getting players into hunts as quickly as possible, Monster Hunter Wilds has the potential to launch the series to new heights. Aside from some head-scratching omissions, Monster Hunter Wilds is a collection of the greatest hits from past games, one that finally delivers on the promise of a truly vibrant and living open world." - Jake Green, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Monster Hunter Wilds is another huge step forward for the long-running action series. This time around, players can enjoy a wide open-world to explore, comprised of interconnected hub areas. you can now ride out, spot a monster, hunt them and then set out again without hing to stop and manage your way through a sea of menus. In many ways, this makes Monster Hunter Wilds the most approachable entry yet.
One big change in Monster Hunter Wilds is the fact that you can now bring in two weapons, and switch between them quickly. This encourages experimentation in a way that's been previously difficult, and is what finally convinced me to try out some new weapons. The campaign is streamlined and slight, but manages to feature hunt after hunt of banger monster fights.
Our expert review:
Reasons to buy+High production values+33 Heroes at launch, with more on the way+Heaps of fun, even when you’re losing+Varied Heroes with different levels of challengeReasons to oid-Not many modes at launch-Tutorials are extremely limited right nowWhy we love it"With 33 Heroes to play as, best-in-class presentation bookending matches, and a free-to-play monetization model, Marvel Rivals is almost too good to be true. There’s balancing issues, and some core problems with the way objectives play out, sure, but given that Marvel Rivals has only just launched, the future is very bright indeed. For now, you’ll be able to jump in and he a blast, whether you’re looking for a competitive challenge or casual fun." - Jake Green, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Marvel Rivals has taken over the globe since it launched late last year, proving itself to be much more than just an Overwatch clone. There's 35 heroes to play as, each with their own set of unique abilities and play style. Bec cause of this wide variety of characters, Marvel Rivals is easy to recommend for everyone, whether you want to play as a shooter like The Punisher, or a melee-focused brawler like Iron Fist.
Modes are simple, primarily focusing on push the payload, and domination, but thanks to a selection of vibrant and well-designed maps, there's plenty of fun to be had in Marvel Rivals. As you level up, you'll earn currency that can be spent on skins, sprays and other cosmetics, and each character has its own progression to work through. It's still fairly early days, but Marvel Rivals is looking like a new contender in the multiplayer space, and is a great game to play along with friends.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at Amazon(Black)View at WalmartView at Best BuyView at HSNReasons to buy+Cutting-edge visuals+Well-paced, thrilling campaign+Electric multiplayer+Innovative ‘omnimovment’ mechanics+Highly engaging zombies modeReasons to oid-A few subpar mapsWhy we love it"Black Ops 6 is the best Call of Duty game in years, with an excellent suite of brand new maps to fight across, and a genuinely fun Zombies experience. Thanks to the new Omnimovement mechanics, you can run and dive in any direction, adding new options for kills, and a heck of a lot of style. Classic Prestige is back, and the weapons are balanced." - Jake Green, TechRadar Gaming Contributor.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (PS4 and Xbox One through backwards compatibility)
Black Ops 6 is a real return to form for the long-running shooter series. It's the best it has felt in a while, with a truly balanced suite of weapons ranging from fast-firing SMGs to tactical marksman rifles. The real fun comes courtesy of the new Omnimovement mechanics, which will he you diving around corners, off of rooftops, and down staircases in search of the wildest trickshots.
Multiplayer is crossplay in Black Ops 6, as is Zombies, which means you can squad up with pals regardless of where you're all playing. Zombies is particularly fun, with two maps and main missions to play through. Soon, we'll see Warzone getting some Black Ops 6 integration, so there'll be even more to try out.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, PC and Nintendo Switch
Fall Guys has been out for a while now, but it's still one of the best crossplay games you can play with your pals. Inspired by the likes of Total Wipeout and Takeshi's Castle, Fall Guys is a unique battle royale game where players compete for survival, and ultimately, a shiny crown. You'll jump, dive, and vault your way through courses, pushing your opponents around to get ahead. It's a very fun time
Why we love itFall Guys made quite a splash when it launched, and since then, it's proven itself to be one of the most fun multiplayer experiences going. You can squad up with friends on all platforms, and it's free-to-play as well!
While the game is indeed free to play, you can spend real-world money on costumes and other cosmetic items. Fall Guys can be played on a wide range of consoles too, and thanks to crossplay, you'll be able to squad up with your pals regardless of where they're playing.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (PS4 and Xbox One through backwards compatibility)
Call of Duty: Warzone has taken on a life of its own since it became a standalone battle royale game, giving the likes of Fortnite and PUBG a run for their money – one of the best FPS games turned into one of the best battle royale games.
Why we love itAfter a fairly shaky launch, Warzone has received smart and extensive overhauls to everything from looting to the way the map encourages engagements.
Warzone's shooting is satisfying, its map rewarding to explore, and it offers more than enough interesting concepts like the Gulag and Contracts to make each match feel wholly unique, wherever you land. With the launch of 6, it's set to add changes to movement, speeding up gameplay and introducing Omnimovement.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, PC and Nintendo Switch
No Man's Sky has come a heck of a long way since it launched nearly eight years ago. In that time, Hello Games has added major update after major update, all for free for those that own the game. Now, it's more of a multiplayer affair, with players able to squad up and explore the universe together.
Why we love itNo Man's Sky has received countless updates since it launched, so many that the game is nearly unrecognizable to those that stopped playing after the first version. Now, you can explore the universe with your friends, take on expeditions, or just admire the beauty of each planet you land on. Truly the ultimate space exploration game.
Whether you want to smuggle illegal goods as a space scoundrel, make alien friends, or study the fauna and flora of distant planets, No Man's Sky will likely he something for you. You'll start off fairly limited, but after upgrading your ship's flight and weapon capacities, you can reach more distant planets, and claim more valuable rewards. If you'd rather start with a bit more in your inventory, No Man's Sky's ongoing Expeditions will lead you through short narratives that guide you from place to place, beginning with different ship and item combinations.
Base building, fleet management and a bounty system are all well worth your time, as is simply jumping from planet to planet to see the sights. The game is now free to play as well, making 2024 a great time to jump in and see what the universe has in store for you.
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at WalmartView at AmazonView at Amazon(PC)View at AmazonReasons to buy+Challenging but fun with friends+Quickplay option means you can join others easily+Great gunplayReasons to oid-Can be unstable in terms of serversPlatforms that support crossplay: PS5 and PC.
Helldivers 2 is one of the newest games on this list, hing arrived in early 2024. It's been a global phenomenon since it came out, and after a shaky launch in terms of server struggles and bugs, it's now one of the most popular games going right now. This is mostly down to its hilariously difficult gameplay, the way it engages its community, and the fact that it can be picked up for around $40.
You'll drop down onto a variety of planets filled with either the Terminds (Bugs) or Automatons (Robots). As you fight to complete objectives you'll need to make use of special weapons, sheer luck and brute force to make it to the extraction zone. Make it out alive and you'll earn currency and XP which is used to unlock bigger and better weapons and Stratagems. Helldivers 2 is great with friends, but does feature a Quickplay function that'll throw you in with other players at the drop of a hat.
Why we love it"Helldivers 2 delivers on the promise of chaotic fun through superior firepower. Whether you’re slaying enemies with your friends or slaying your friends while enemies are also present, if you’ve got the crew, this is a guaranteed good time." - Jake Tucker, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Give Helldivers 2 a go if you like your games action packed, with your friends in tow, and full to the brim with heaps of personality. While it can be difficult to get into at first, that's sort of the point, and you'll soon find yourself jumping in over and over again to push the war effort forward, and to see your friends go flying as they're hit by wayward grenades and projectiles.
Our expert review:
Today's Best DealsView at Amazon(Download)View at Amazon(PS4)View at Walmart(Switch)View at Amazon(Switch)Reasons to buy+Fun, fluid gameplay+Ingenious Ping System+Stellar lineup of personalities Reasons to oid-A few weapons need refining -Battle Pass is mundanePlatforms that support crossplay: PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
Apex Legends is another contender vying for the battle royale crown. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing.
However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on a class, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch 2 and you’ll be on the right track.)
why we love itApex Legends is an engrossing, revamped take on battle royale that as it stands cannot be beat for its attention, detail and care.
This is the perfect battle royale game for those who enjoy the genre's premise but can't get on board with Call of Duty's slower speed or PUBG's hyper-competitiveness – and it's free-to-play. Plus, different classes, abilities and limited-time events make for a dynamic experience overall.
Apex Legends has crossplay across all platforms, easily earning it a spot among the best crossplay games. Given it's ailable on pretty much every modern platform, that means you can play with friends (for free) no matter what hardware they own.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5 and PC
Destiny 2 may he released several years ago but Bungie's online-multiplayer shooter is still going strong. This is a shooter that is constantly evolving, thanks to regular (and sometimes quite drastic) updates.
Why we love itStarting Destiny 2 can be a little bit daunting, but stick with it and you he hundreds of hours of top-tier looting and shooting ahead of you. Leveling up and raiding with a squad of friends is one of the best gaming experiences you can he, regardless of what platform you're playing on.
Getting started can be a bit of a pain, but once you get into it (and we strongly advise to play with a group of friends) you'll find yourself hooked – Destiny 2 has a really strong and active community that's a joy to be part of.
Like Apex Legends, Destiny 2 is not only one of the best FPS games, it's one of the best crossplay games right now, allowing players across all platforms to play together that it's ailable on.
Platforms that support crossplay: PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC
Looking for an online horror to he you and your friends on tenterhooks (and literal hooks)? Then Dead by Daylight may be for you. This asymmetric survival horror has a pretty simple premise: if you're a survivor then you want to repair all the generators and escape the killer, if you're the killer then you want to hunt down all the survivors and sacrifice them all to the Entity by hanging them on hooks.
Why we love itThis is the perfect horror game to play with friends. The amount of coordination and trust you must he with your fellow survivors makes for some pretty thrilling and funny antics.
The variety of killers and survivors on offer, all with different playstyles, makes Dead by Daylight such fun. Additionally you he the option to purchase licensed horror movie characters like Ghostface and Pinhead. The added variety of items, perks, and add-ons ultimately makes Dead by Daylight one of the best horror games out there.
It's also one of the best crossplay games ailable, with cross-platform play supported on all platforms. Mobile versions of the game on Android and iOS also exist, but these are only compatible for crossplay with each other.
Platforms that support crossplay: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Rocket League, the incomparable physics-based rocket-car soccer game, remains one of the most popular online games – and it's not hard to see why.
Why we love itRocket League is easy to pick up and difficult to master. It has stayed true to its roots even after all these years, with a great community that's willing to onboard newcomers as well.
Rocket League's basic premise is simple (knock the ball into the goal), making it easy for anyone to pick up, while the ability to crossplay with friends means that youc an team up no matter what platform your friend is playing on.
Matches range from 1-v-1 to 4-v-4, so there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to gathering your friends to play together. Rocket League is definitely better with friends – trying to coordinate your team between goalkeeping, defending and attacking takes coordination but can also devolve into frantic fun. There’s also a league-based system online, so you get a nice sense of progression as your team grows from a fumbling mess into a well-oiled machine.
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsCheck AmazonCheck WalmartReasons to buy+Vibrant world+Fun combat+Unique building mechanicReasons to oid-Constantly shifting world can be confusingWhy we love it"Beneath all of the dances, the skins, and the Battle Pass, Fortnite Battle Royale is an excellently designed, ever-shifting platform of a game that respects a player's time whether they choose to spend money or not. There's enough of a learning curve to keep us coming back time and time again, while also being a fun place to play a quick game with a friend. It truly is a modern marvel." - Lloyd Coombes, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Platforms that support crossplay: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices
Fortnite has had a meteoric rise since its release in 2017, and it's not hard to see why. The free-to-play battle royale game offers players an energetic and enjoyable online multiplayer experience, throwing in some building mechanics to set it off from its competitors.
Fortnite is in many ways responsible for the popularity of the battle royale genre, even though it didn't invent it. When it comes to platforms covered, Fortnite takes the top spot on this list of best crossplay games – not only does it support cross-platform play on consoles and PC, but on mobile devices too.
Platforms that support crossplay: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backwards compatibility)
Minecraft released quite a few years ago, but the core experience is as magical as ever. The sandbox survival game allows players to build with blocks in a 3D-generated world, providing a perfect creative outlet for those who enjoy building impressive digital creations.
Why we love itYou've likely heard many singing the praises of Minecraft, and there's good reason for that. It's incredibly deep, but versatile. If you want to start a server with pals and build a functioning ski-lift, you absolutely can. If you just want to mine and mess around, there's that too. Limitless possibilities in a game that only continues to improve.
Even if building castles and secret hideouts isn't your strenth, Minecraft offers you plenty of things to do – explore its world, bring back valuable loot and take on monsters that can lurk anywhere.
While Minecraft Bedrock Edition does support crossplay, the Ja Edition does not. So if you and your friends want to play together across platforms, you both need the Bedrock Edition.
Best crossplay games: FAQ
There is a development cost to including crossplay and it's also not easy to implement for already ailable games, hence why you don't see it across the board.
However, crossplay between Playstation consoles and Xbox consoles is becoming more common, and games that are part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative automatically allow crossplay between Xbox and PC.
Prior to crossplay becoming ailable for Overwatch developer Wes Yanagi commented that "implementing crossplay is more difficult than people realize" (via GameSpot).
Shawn Layden, former chairman of PlayStation Worldwide Studios, has also said that "enabling crossplay isn't just about flipping a switch and 'there you go'. It's a very multi-dimensional kind of attribute or feature" (via Eurogamer).
Even as technical barriers fall, platform manufacturers can also be hesitant to allow cross-platform play, given they want to give players reasons to purchase their specific platform above others.
We know, there are a lot of terms with the word “cross”-something in gaming these days. Crossplay and cross-platform are two that can be easily confused. The difference between crossplay and cross-platform games is, mainly, that a game that supports crossplay is one in which players on different platforms can play together via online multiplayer. So, for example, even though you’re on Xbox and your friend is on PlayStation, you can still play together on Fortnite.
A cross-platform release is slightly different. It just means that a game is ailable on multiple platforms. A game might be released with Xbox, PlayStation and Switch versions, making it cross-platform, but it won't necessarily include the crossplay support that allows players on these different platforms to play online together.
However, cross-platform play is the same as crossplay, as it means you can play with others across platforms. Confusing, we know.
What are cross-gen games?While the word cross-gen sounds similar to crossplay, it doesn't he a lot to do with crossplay, but it can be handy is you're struggling to geta console of the current generation.
Cross-gen games are those that are released on more than one generation of consoles – like how GTA 5 was released on both PS4/Xbox One and PS3/Xbox 360, or how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released on Wii U as well as Nintendo Switch.
Sometimes cross-gen games do support cross-play; Call of Duty Warzone, for example, offers cross-play across both last-gen and current-gen consoles plus PC, meaning whatever platform you're playing on, you can join your friends.
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