One Developer Has Recently Defended Sony’s Stance on PS4 Cross-Play
Cross-play for the PS4 has long been a sensitive topic of conversation for many in the industry. After years of pressure from developers and the industry as a whole, last year it seemed like Sony was willing to finally change their stance on the issue. Though there are a few major games players can play with their friends on other consoles, for the most part, this feature still isn’t readily available. While many are still shaking their heads in disbelief, there’s one developer who just happens to agree with Sony’s push back on the cross-play conversation.
Though Sony recently insisted that the lack of cross-play on the majority of video games out there was a result of the developers simply not implementing the feature, developers have come out and spoken up suggesting this simply isn’t true. Now, why all the hubbub over cross-play still after all these years? Dave Bars, the founder of BARS Studios spoke on the issue recently. He stated that he can understand both the player frustration, as well as why Sony still isn’t jumping at the idea of cross-play.
In a recent interview with GamingBolt Bars explained what he meant saying, “There are several reasons why you choose one console over the other. Exclusive games, brand sympathy etc. But there is also a very strong reason, which is one of the most important ones. ‘All my friends are playing on console xy.’ Once you decide to buy the other console, you decide not being able to play with your friends.” He then continued, suggesting that because of Sony’s higher sales figures, their view on the issue makes complete sense from a business perspective. “‘I am buying a PlayStation because all my friends are playing on a PlayStation’ is one key argument that has a great impact on sales. It makes no sense for Sony to renounce that, since they have significantly higher sales figures than Xbox. So from a gamer’s perspective this is really disappointing, because everyone wants to choose his/her favorite console and be able to play with friends across platforms. But from a business point of view it is comprehensible.”
Do you agree that from a business standpoint this logic makes sense? What are your thoughts on cross-play? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to keep it locked for updates.