At GDC today, Microsoft announced Cross-Network Play, meaning “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.”
They continued by saying that Rocket League is one of the first games to support cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, “with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well.”
Here’s Microsoft’s full statement on 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.
Rocket League developer Psyonix also weighed in on the feature, suggesting that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One cross-play is happening at some point:
To say that the team here at Psyonix is both honored and excited to have Rocket League as the first cross-network game is a massive understatement. Cross-network play has been the number-one most requested feature our community has asked for since Rocket League was first announced on Xbox One, and now that we are able to pursue complete online unity on all platforms, today’s announcement is a dream come true.
Expect to see Rocket League cross-network play working on Xbox One and PC later this spring, with information regarding other platforms coming soon.
Sony hasn’t offered up a response to Microsoft’s Cross-Network Play announcement, so it remains to be seen if they’ll allow PS4 vs Xbox One cross-play.
Would you like to play online games against Xbox One users?
[Source: Xbox, Rocket League]
