Nowadays, cross-platform games are on the rise by the day, meaning that anyone hoping to play a firest person shooter (FPS), or MMO (Mass Multiplayer Online) game online with their friends, even if they dont have the same platform, can link together with these 10 Cross-play games to play across PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Never has it been so easy to pick up a game and play with people from all over the world. And with the current statistics showing the growth of cross-play games, looks like its going to break the last major barrier to players stuck on different gaming platforms. Some people might not see what the whole fuss is about cross-play platform games. After all, do you have enough people to play Call of Duty with on just your Xbox?
In the past few years, its become clear that we have the technological ability to enable cross-platform gaming, especially across consoles, like the PS4 and Xbox One, or the newer generations like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. These consoles share increasingly similar processing architecture and are basically dedicated gaming PCs.
Think about it, in the months after the realease of a big online game, two player numbers tend to come into play, and being able to expand the team matchmaking across platforms can be a big boom to both dedicated fans and the longivity of the game itself. I read a while back, that some game publishers like Ubisoft, are looking to make all of their PvP games cross-play, and that trend is only set to continue on the same path. SO, if your looking for cross-play games, that dont hinder you to one specific platform, here is my guide of 10 cross-play games avaiable to play.
What Are Cross-Play Games?
In a nutshell, cross-play games gives you the ability to play online video games across more than one platform. Meaning for instance, someone playing Fortnite on PC could be on the same server as someone else using a PS4 or PS5. Also allowing players to access their player data from those different consoles. Usually big-nameshat focus on braodly accessible play are the most likely to support cross-play, such as the battle royale game Fortnite, or the building block simulator Minecraft.
Though, this isnt by no means a common practice across the whole board, especially when its not helped by the push for exclusive games on most platforms, preventing a lot of tittles from allowing cross-play functionality.
Why Can’t All Games Be Cross-Play?
Honestly, you can say that ther are a few major players in the game that are leading the charge on this. Microsoft’s Play Anywhere initiative means that many Xbox titles, once purchased, can also be played on PC. Because Microsft develops both the Xbox platform and the Windows operating system, you would say that this cross-play function is pretty straight forward.
Even though we are seeing a growth of cross-play AAA games between Xbox and PlayStation, and despite the latter lagging behind, progress is still being made. But in terms of cost and development, there is a price to pay for including cross-play. Hench proabbly why you dont tend to see it across all games. For instance, if the code for the game isnt written to allow play of this kind, its not that simple to introduce retrospectively either.
Wes Yanagi, developer of Overwatch, commented on how “Cross-play is something that would definetly be compelling for players, and as a player, I would love to see it happen. The truth is that implemting cross-play for Overwatch is more difficult than people realise” – (source – GameSpot)
“Enabling cross-play isnt just about flipping a switch and ‘there you go’. Its a very multi-dimensional kind of attribute or feature”. Quoted by Shawn Layden, the departing chairman of PlayStation Worldwide Studios. (source – Eurogamer)
Truthfully, even if the technology is possibly and gift on a plate, certain paltform manufactuerers can also be hesitant top add cross-play to there games. Reason – the fact that they would rather have the players solely dedicated to their own platform and not a rivals. I can see why this is a factor on wether or not to add cross-play games.
Anyway, so waht games are actually cross-play? Here is a quick list of 10 cross-play games below.
10 Best Cross-Play Games
Fortnite (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile)
The massive popular online battle roayle game Fortnite is the free fo to cross-play game for its ease of play and support across consoles, PC, IOS, and Android. Having Forntie creators constantly developing the game each season, it keep splayers entertained with the brand new maps they bring, and mahcnanics like swimming and motorboats, seriously its never been a better time to kimp on the Fortnite bandwagon.
Minecraft (PC, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile)
Being one of the bestselling PC games ever, Minecraft has good reason, with its simple interface and building machanics allows for huge amounts of players to get creative and build complex strutcures, from building a floating castle, an underground lava pit, or a giant in-game arcade machine. The world really is your blocky oyster.
Rocket League (PS4, Xbox One, Switch , PC)
An interesting football remix that see you playing an indoor football match by knowcking around and scoring goals with fast moving cars. As madness and chaotic as it sounds, it has becme one of the games to get such a huge fan base because of its style and cross-play support. Really recommended checking it out.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
The latest instalment from the Call of Duty franchise, gets you to tackle the 21st century warfare head on, with a big focus on how civilians get coaught up in urban battlegrounds. Regardless of the campaign, the multiplayer is as slick and polished as ever.
Hearthstone (PC, Mobile)
Fan of World of Warcraft? Hearthstone is a free to play card game that expands the lore of World of Warcraft. It also has built up an incredible following, and with the cross-play function with mobiles, it allows for far more flexibility when it comes to playing across paltforms.
PUBG (Xbox One, PS4)
A battle royale game that tried to compete with Fortnite, but just couldnt keep up. Only becuas eof the huge success of Fortnite, with the younger generation I think. But still, PUGB has a sizable audience worldwide, and supports cross-play between Xbox One, and PS4, only downside, is unlike Fortnite, these are the only two platforms its available on.
Street Fighter V (PS4, PC)
A limited cross-play game, Street Fighter shows the start of side-scrolling punch ups moving beyond the restrictions of particular platforms.
Wargroove (Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Developed by an indie team, this stretegy game inspired by the legacy of Advance Wars, is set in a medievil fantasy world. Including dragons and magic, this sprite based warfare is still very much worth your time, whatever platform you decide to play it on.
Dauntless (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Created by Epic Games, this free to play action game allows you to either play solo or in groups of upto four people. Similar to Monster Hunter, you take on massive ‘Behemoths’ that wreck havoc on the land, and some of these creatures cantake upto 20 minutes to be beat.
DC Universe Online (PS4, PC)
With the likes of Batman, Flash, the Joker, and more populating a comics inspires world. This action MMO is an ideal game for the DC Universe Fan. Seriously, why play this alone when it allows you to play with your friends on PC and PS4 too?
More Cross-Play Games You Can Play
Like I mentioned at the start of this post, Ive only names 10 of the best cross-play games I believe are out at the minute. But if non of the games above interested you, or your curious to know what other games are cross-play. Here is a quick list of 30 other cross-play games that rank well across two or more platforms.
- Aragami (Xbox One, PC, Switch, PS4, PC)
- Ark: Survival Evolved (Xbox One, PC)
- Astroneer (Xbox One, PC)
- Brawlhalla (Xbox One, PS4, Switch)
- Dick Wilde 2 (PS4, PC)
- Dragon Quest Builders 2 (PS4, Switch)
- Eve: Valkyrie (PS4, PC)
- Final Fantasy XIV (PS4, PC, Mac)
- Full Metal Furies (Xbox One, PC)
- Games of Glory (PS4, PC)
- Guns of Icarus Online (PS4, PC, Mac)
- Happy Wars (Xbox One, PC)
- Hex (PS4, PC)
- Killer Queen Black (Switch, Xbox One, PC)
- Mantis Burn Racing (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
- Mushroom Wars 2 (Switch, PC, Mac)
- Next Up Hero (Xbox One, Switch, Mac, PC)
- Overload (Xbox One, PC / PS4, PC)
- Paladins (Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS4)
- Phantasy Star Online 2 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
- Realm Royale (Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS4)
- Rec Room (PS4, PC)
- Siegecraft Commander (PS4, PC / Switch, Xbox One, PC)
- Sniper Elite V2 Remastered (Xbox One, PC)
- Spacelords (PS4, PC / Xbox One, PC)
- SMITE (Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS4)
- Star Trek: Bridge Crew (PS4, PC)
- Super Mega Baseball (PS4, Xbox One)
- Weapons of Mythology: New Age (PS4, PC)
- Werewolves Within (PS4, PC)
Finally, What About Cross-Gen Games?
You may have heard the term before ‘Cross-Gen Games’, being thrown around in gaming articles andforums online, but just to let you know, it really doesnt have anything to do with cross-play games.
Cross-Gen games are those games that are released across one or more generations of a console. For example: GTA 5 was released on both PS4/Xbox One and PS3/Xbox 360, or another example is The Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wild, which was released on Wii U as well as Nintendo Switch.
Dont get me wrong, sometimes cross-play can include consoles from different generations, meaning that the Xbox One players and Xbox 360 players can log onto the same server together. Although, given the technology mismatch between the two consoles, its very unlikly not be as pure of an experiences as between PS4 and Xbox One.
