Console Castles (Ep. 6)

Initial Developments

The early days of cross-platform play were marked by resistance from console manufacturers. Mitch Lasky explains that consoles historically forbade cross-platform play to maintain exclusivity, forcing players to buy the same console to play together 1. However, the success of online multiplayer games like Fortnite began to challenge this model. Blake Robbins recalls how Microsoft used Rocket League to provoke Sony into considering cross-platform play, highlighting the competitive dynamics between console giants 2.

The PlayStation four players could play with PC, Mac, and mobile Fortnite players, and the Xbox players could also play with PC, Mac, and mobile Fortnite players, but the Microsoft and Sony players couldn't play with each other.

--- Mitch Lasky

This shift marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, where player demand began to influence corporate strategies.

   

Epic's Influence

Epic Games played a pivotal role in advancing cross-platform play through Fortnite. Blake Robbins notes that Fortnite's accidental cross-platform play revelation forced Sony to reconsider its stance, as player demand for cross-platform capabilities grew 3. The release of Fortnite on the Nintendo Switch, fully cross-platform, further pressured Sony, leading to a broader industry shift. Mitch Lasky highlights the economic impact, revealing that cross-platform players were significantly more engaged and profitable 4.

Cross platform play ends up being vital to the business models of these forever games.

--- Mitch Lasky

This revolutionized the gaming landscape, making cross-platform play a standard expectation.

   

Business Impacts

The shift towards cross-platform play has profound business implications for developers and console manufacturers. Mitch Lasky discusses how platform-based publishers challenge traditional business models, as seen in the legal battles between Apple and Epic 5. Sony's strategy of requiring additional fees from publishers highlights the tension between maintaining control and adapting to new market dynamics. Blake Robbins emphasizes the strategic foresight of leaders like Phil Spencer in navigating these changes 6.

It's going to be really interesting to see how this border war between the platforms and the platform based publishers play out the next few years.

--- Mitch Lasky

These developments underscore the evolving nature of the gaming industry and the ongoing power struggles within it.