Good news for Fortnite players on PlayStation 4! In a sweeping policy change for Sony Interactive Entertainment, they announced a Cross-Play Beta for Fortnite launching today on PlayStation 4. For the first time, Fortnite players will be able to play with players on mobile, Switch, Xbox One, and PC. It also means you can login with one account across PlayStation 4 and other platforms.
Note that since this feature is currently in beta, expect lots of technical hiccups and issues.
“For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective,” writes John Kodera, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. “Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.”
Previously Sony has been notoriously tight-nit when it comes to cross-platform play. Fortnite’s incredible popularity has finally caused a paradigm shift in company policy (much like Minecraft and Early Access games on consoles). This change can and most likely will also apply to future online games. Kodera goes on to say: “We we are now in the planning process across the organization to support this change, […] and what this means for other titles going forward.”
No specific dates or time frames have been announced for the cross-platform beta. Fortnite Battle Royale is currently available on every modern gaming console, and the lines between them are rapidly shrinking.
