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"On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play," said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida this week.

Alissa McAloon, Publisher

August 31, 2018

1 Min Read

While more and more games are finding ways to embrace cross-platform progression and multiplayer, Sony has been notably resistant to fully opening up the PlayStation 4 to any sort of cross-play. 

At the IFA technology show in Berlin this week, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida spoke briefly about why the company has so far, in the face of games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Minecraft, allowed cross-platform features with only certain, non-console devices.

"On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play,” said Yoshida, in a quote captured by The Independent. “Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that's our belief.”

Yoshida notes that Sony has allowed some games to go cross-platform, but only with PC or mobile. PlayStation 4 games notably don’t offer cross-platform play or progression with other consoles like the Xbox One or Switch, and, in the case of Fortnite, block PS4-tied game accounts from being used on other consoles altogether. 

"But actually, we already opened some games as cross-platform with PC and some others,” said Yoshida. “So we decide based on what is the best user experience. That is our way of thinking for cross-platform."

Yoshida's own firm stance lightly contrasts statements made by Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Shawn Layden just a few months back, however. During a conversation with Eurogamer, Layden said that Sony was listening to feedback from players and was "looking at a lot of the possibilities" to address those complaints.

About the Author(s)

Alissa McAloon

Publisher, GameDeveloper.com

As the Publisher of Game Developer, Alissa McAloon brings a decade of experience in the video game industry and media. When not working in the world of B2B game journalism, Alissa enjoys spending her time in the worlds of immersive sandbox games or dabbling in the occasional TTRPG.

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