Sony defends decision to block PS4 cross-play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote]Sony has defended its decision to block cross-play between PS4 and Xbox One after coming under fire from gamers this week. During its E3 2017 media briefing, Microsoft announced that cross-platform play is coming to Minecraft, one of the biggest games in the world. It means Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, mobile and VR Minecraft players can all play together. And today, Nintendo announced Rocket League, another of the world's biggest games, is coming to Nintendo Switch, and developer Psyonix confirmed cross-platform play between Xbox One, Switch and Steam. In both cases, PS4 was absent from the list of consoles available for cross-play. So what's up? Microsoft previously talked about the possibility of cross-network play, and said the ball was in Sony's court to allow it. And, certainly, going by this tweet from Minecraft spokesperson Aubrey Norris, the desire was there to get PlayStation on board[/quote] [quote]Minecraft works cross-platform between Switch, Xbox and PC. Today, Rocket League was announced as working cross-platform between Switch, Xbox and PC. Both don't work cross-platform with PlayStation. Now, is this Sony not playing ball? What is actually going on here? Jim Ryan: It's certainly not a profound philosophical stance we have against this. We've done it in the past. We're always open to conversations with any developer or publisher who wants to talk about it. Unfortunately it's a commercial discussion between ourselves and other stakeholders, and I'm not going to get into the detail of that on this particular instance. And I can see your eyes rolling. Well, you must see that PlayStation owners are upset. They want to play with Switch owners, PC owners and Xbox One owners for these two big and important games, and they don't have an explanation for why. That's what I'm getting at, really. Jim Ryan: Yeah. We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base. Minecraft - the demographic playing that, you know as well as I do, it's all ages but it's also very young. We have a contract with the people who go online with us, that we look after them and they are within the PlayStation curated universe. Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully.[/quote] [url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-13-sony-defends-decision-to-block-cross-play-with-xbox-one-and-nintendo-switch]Eurogamer[/url]

"Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully." This is a legit concern - albeit being literally "think of the children", but these are games with low age restrictions. Hopefully they'll find a solution beneficial to everyone.

"You think you want it but you don't" again? Just add parental controls that disables voice chat, dude.

I'm surprised that Sony of all developers is the one that's against cross-platform play. I had been under the impression that as far as console companies went they were the most onboard with it considering the good relationship between Square and them when it comes to the online Final Fantasy MMOs, which are both cross-platform, with FFXIV actually [I]not requiring a PS+ subscription[/I] to play online.

I mean Street Fighter V has crossplay between PS4 and Steam so I don't understand their reasoning behind it.

Sony wants to have people pay for their old games again through slow re-releases on a digital network instead of support backwards compatibility like Microsoft has, has been subverting cross-platform play out of their own factors, and still hangs on dearly to the Vita in Japan while brushing off its death in the west. It's like they went full retard after E3 2013.

[QUOTE=froztshock;52355340]I'm surprised that Sony of all developers is the one that's against cross-platform play. I had been under the impression that as far as console companies went they were the most onboard with it considering the good relationship between Square and them when it comes to the online Final Fantasy MMOs, which are both cross-platform, with FFXIV actually [I]not requiring a PS+ subscription[/I] to play online.[/QUOTE] Exactly my thought. Added to that Microsoft was the one that wanted extra servers for xbox only in the past, thats why FFXIV on XB1 never happened. To be fair, the no PS+ subscription is because FFXIV requires its own sub to play. Now we are at a time where it seems to be reversed but for some other stupid reasons. :v:

[QUOTE=fhASSA;52355362]I mean Street Fighter V has crossplay between PS4 and Steam so I don't understand their reasoning behind it.[/QUOTE] [quote]Jim Ryan: Yeah. We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base. Minecraft - the demographic playing that, you know as well as I do, it's all ages but it's also very young. We have a contract with the people who go online with us, that we look after them and they are within the PlayStation curated universe. Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully.[/quote] Well that's the given reason for Minecraft not having it. Sony don't want to be the fall guys for some parent seeing their kid playing Minecraft with users from another service who are building swastikas and cocks, because Sony can't do anything about those users. If they keep it to their platform only they can ban users who are being consistent enough dickheads. Probably why they don't mind SFV having cross-play, it's a more mature audience inherently.

lets go right ahead and say that the company behind god of war isn't doing crossplay because "think of the children!" while the company that is considered kiddy by some people agreed to crossplay... good to know arrogant sony is back

There was also crossplay with several Valve games on both Sony consoles and PC. What a strange change of heart.

Even still I think it's a stretch for them to say they control a "Playstation curated universe". There seem to be nothing but complaints flowing out of the Overwatch console community in regards to shitheads, hackers, and griefers, and over the last year the general consensus has been "nobody is doing anything because nobody knows who's problem it is". I know this is just one example but if it truly was as easy as reporting someone and getting their Playstation account banned I don't think these issues with Overwatch would even exist, so in my opinion that statement is just wrong.

a company is denying a basic service that every other games company provides because "duh childrun"... and its not nintendo what kind of bizzaro universe have i entered?

[QUOTE=Paul-Simon;52355315]"Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully." This is a legit concern - albeit being literally "think of the children", but these are games with low age restrictions. Hopefully they'll find a solution beneficial to everyone.[/QUOTE] I mean, all things considered, a kid is already likely to meet random strangers online and get exposed to vulgarity or otherwise regardless of which system they're on. Even with Sony's claim of not wanting it to happen in matters outside of their control, it'd happen even within their 'territory' anyway.

I don't know, i think that is just a bullshit excuse. There are tons of games where young teens barrage everyone in the lobby as "fucking faggot go die" or so i have experienced from playing a few rounds of Uncharted 4 online.

[quote]Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully.[/quote] Ummmm, so, about War Thunder which has cross-play with PC... [t]http://i.imgur.com/yXzdnZp.png[/t]

But Rocket League already has crossplay between PS4, XBOX and PC?!

Sony wants to consolidate everything they can under themselves. They push more for exclusive titles, they're cutting down on crossplay, telling people they don't want backwards compatibility, it's a generally Apple approach of "Our way or the highway."

[QUOTE=millan;52355629]Ummmm, so, about War Thunder which has cross-play with PC... [t]http://i.imgur.com/yXzdnZp.png[/t][/QUOTE] It doesn't change their point: Rocket League and Minecraft are both rated "Everyone", while this is rated "Teen".

[QUOTE=TimeSchocK;52355640]But Rocket League already has crossplay between PS4, XBOX and PC?![/QUOTE] Rocket League has cross play between PC & PS4 and PC & Xbox (and now Switch). PS4 and Xbox players were never able to play with each other.

Let's be real here; they just don't want to have to share/lose game sales to their main competitors in the console market.

[QUOTE=Paul-Simon;52355315]"Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully." This is a legit concern - albeit being literally "think of the children", but these are games with low age restrictions. Hopefully they'll find a solution beneficial to everyone.[/QUOTE] *ask your parents before going online.

[QUOTE=Ager O'Eggers;52356090]Let's be real here; they just don't want to have to share/lose game sales to their main competitors in the console market.[/QUOTE] To be honest, they don't have anything to lose here. Having crossplay would bump up Minecraft's/Rocket League's value. The only ones losing here are the players. No one will buy a PS4 exclusively because they can't crossplay with that userbase.

[QUOTE=hexpunK;52355474]Well that's the given reason for Minecraft not having it. Sony don't want to be the fall guys for some parent seeing their kid playing Minecraft with users from another service who are building swastikas and cocks, because Sony can't do anything about those users. If they keep it to their platform only they can ban users who are being consistent enough dickheads. Probably why they don't mind SFV having cross-play, it's a more mature audience inherently.[/QUOTE] Not only that, but the reason why SFV probably gets away with it is because all the work done to implement the cross-play system is done by Capcom, using their servers and their SFV specific service. As such, Capcom is free to pretty much do whatever they want with their online. Rocket League and Minecraft aren't exactly in the same boat.

What the fuck has Sony been doing lately? Every move they've made in a public spotlight whether it be movies, games or basic E-security is textbook how to fail as a company 101 and they're still not learning. Disney, I don't ask for much but at least do the media industry a favor and put these morons out of our misery.

[QUOTE=Ager O'Eggers;52356090]Let's be real here; they just don't want to have to share/lose game sales to their main competitors in the console market.[/QUOTE] And by saying "no," they've made those games on their platform the inferior, more locked down version.

[QUOTE=LegndNikko;52356441]And by saying "no," they've made those games on their platform the interior, more locked down version.[/QUOTE] Same with Fallout 4/Skyrim. AFAIK only the latter got modding and even then it was only allowed to use vanilla assets.

[QUOTE=goluffy;52355786]It doesn't change their point: Rocket League and Minecraft are both rated "Everyone", while this is rated "Teen".[/QUOTE] "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB"

I don't understand. A multiplatform game that allows cross-play is obviously way more lucrative? Who the hell would pick the platform that doesn't have cross-play if they have the choice? What is their strategy? They are simply making their version of game the inferior one.

[QUOTE=Noob4life;52357766]I don't understand. A multiplatform game that allows cross-play is obviously way more lucrative? Who the hell would pick the platform that doesn't have cross-play if they have the choice? What is their strategy? They are simply making their version of game the inferior one.[/QUOTE] They have the largest player base so I guess the idea is that as friends want to play with each other, people will get a PS4 because their friend already owns one - basically they think it'll hurt Microsoft more than themselves. I guess that might be true, but it's anti-consumer to the core.

Sony is currently winning the "console war", they are far ahead with sales. And then they just play out the arrogant/insulted card.