Crossplatform

[Wyldwiisel]

Given that Fortnight Beta seems to have been a success is Frontier going to be adding crossplatform too
Fortnight added pc-xbox first I'm guessing that Microsoft were more up for it that PlayStation at the time maybe frontier could do the same and add playstion on once it proves popular
Or even test it on CQC for viability

 

[Quantis Trap]

I play on all platforms. I've been hoping it would happen for a long time and now that both Microsoft and finally Sony are beginning to open up the option, I hope Frontier will try to do it.

 

[Wyldwiisel]

I just think they need to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later and fortnight had crossplatform a long time before the official beta with PlayStation too
I'd even pay for a unified universe if it was about licencing as everyone wants to make money off stuff these days

 

[ebbrell]

They will have to rethink how squadrons works if they do, I think at present you need to register a squadron per platform. Pc, Xbox and ps4. It may be achievable to have the same name squadron name on each platform belonging to different people. Each platform squadron could have different members may be as a result.

Not sure if there are checking to prevent a pc squadron name being registered on Xbox for example.

The message of the day in squadron doesn't cross platform, the squadron message described to date only exists in a single platform.

 

[CMDR Harada]

if I remember the previous discussions correctly..

It wasn't about being technically feasible, it was about platform balance. IE : Would someone forced to use a controller in the XBOX/PS4 be competitive against someone using a HOTAS on the PC ? I believe the answer was the controller account would be at a perceived dis-advantage due to key bindings, voice attack, and other customization's available to PC players. Console accounts simply don't have that many buttons to chose from and would have to cycle thru menus.

 

[insanephoton]

As far as I'm aware, it's down to either MS or Sony not playing ball (probably more likely Sony)

 

[Drazkul]

Yeah Sony has just slightly come around (and thats only because Fortnite is like the most popular game at the moment and the massive player base moaned.

MS aren't much better - they allow cross play in ARK but only if the PC player has bought it from the MS store. If you have the steam version it isn't cross play

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

if I remember the previous discussions correctly..

It wasn't about being technically feasible, it was about platform balance. IE : Would someone forced to use a controller in the XBOX/PS4 be competitive against someone using a HOTAS on the PC ? I believe the answer was the controller account would be at a perceived dis-advantage due to key bindings, voice attack, and other customization's available to PC players. Console accounts simply don't have that many buttons to chose from and would have to cycle thru menus.

I use a controller for PC, and apart from my controller being cheap so has odd deadzones, I don't consider it a disadvantage. I still have full axis control.

 

[Cold Earth]

I just think they need to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later and fortnight had crossplatform a long time before the official beta with PlayStation too
I'd even pay for a unified universe if it was about licencing as everyone wants to make money off stuff these days

I agree although now Sony have started to come around to the idea I think it will be more about adding it into new games rather than existing ones. It could be a case of causing too much disruption as ebbrell said about squadrons and more work involved to undo certain things that have been built due to there being no cross platform before. Maybe we might see an Xbox PS4 crossover first. It would certainly help the longevity of the game if they could combine at least some of the platforms. I’m all for cross platform play.

 

[Leadfoot]

if I remember the previous discussions correctly..

It wasn't about being technically feasible, it was about platform balance. IE : Would someone forced to use a controller in the XBOX/PS4 be competitive against someone using a HOTAS on the PC ? I believe the answer was the controller account would be at a perceived dis-advantage due to key bindings, voice attack, and other customization's available to PC players. Console accounts simply don't have that many buttons to chose from and would have to cycle thru menus.

Let them eat cake (PC user).

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Harada is correct.

Sony (PS4) have allowed crossplay for certain games as a "trial".
MS (Xbox) are more liberal but are also restrictive.

It's not about FDev thinking/doing it, even though Elites network architecture is more complex than most games the tech/code for crossplatform isn't exactly difficult or groundbreaking. It's about being given permission to do it.

 

[Riktar]

Star Trek Bridge Crew is cross platform and from a VR perspective there are things PC/Oculus players can do with hand gestures that a PS4 player can't. Doesn't seem to bother anyone too much that games cross platform.

I understand that from a control perspective in Elite there is more too it than that.

In my case it would allow some of my friends who only use consoles for gaming to interact/join me in the Elite universe without having to by a gaming PC.

Just a thought.

 

[StuartGT]

Sony have so far only allowed Fortnite to become fully crossplay with other consoles. Until their policy changes for other games, like Rocket League whose full-crossplay is ready to go, FDev can't do the same with Elite.

Meanwhile:

Hello everyone,

First off, the news of this cross-platform beta for Fortnite is really exciting. As it’s just announced, we'll be watching with interest to see how it goes!

Though we’re excited, we've nothing to announce on how this could effect Elite Dangerous in the future. However, you'll find all the information here on our forums, across our newsletters and social pages should that change.

Thanks

 

[LeoBartlet]

Given that Fortnight Beta seems to have been a success is Frontier going to be adding crossplatform too
Fortnight added pc-xbox first I'm guessing that Microsoft were more up for it that PlayStation at the time maybe frontier could do the same and add playstion on once it proves popular
Or even test it on CQC for viability

Playstation/Sony are anti-consumer and want to keep their captive audience hooked on one platform.

They only reason they relented is they wanted some of that sweet sweet vbuck money from the millions of kiddies forking out 20 quid on one skin.

 

[CMDR Jefferson Spaceplane]

I'd personally LOVE to see cross platform play in ED. As a cmdr with a 1000+hr save on XB1 with controller / HOTAS & since XBOX died a new PC save just beginning I see only benefits to it.

In my opinion the control method debate is null, as many PC players use controllers or HOTAS as is, so if the worry is around keyboard & mouse being advantageous then if that is the case it already exists in the game. (I do not believe the current instancing systems separate PC players using control methods, somebody will correct me if wrong no doubt)

I know there are other things such as VA etc that XBOX/PS4 players would not have access to, but do 100% of PC players also own VA? I'm willing to bet not. So again that difference would be nothing new.

We are therefore left with mainly positives. Multicrewing, winging up, fighting together, mining together, & exploring this oftentimes magnificent galaxy together.

+ 1,000,000 rep to OP please FD let's just make this happen!

 

[Wyldwiisel]

Yes I agree the controller thing is a non issue I use Hotas never played with keyboard and mouse and don't own Voice attack so technically I'm at a disadvantage but I still play and consider things still to be fair
And if Sony won't play ball just do it with Xbox if enough games do even partial support players will switch platforms next time they upgrade

 

[Factabulous]

From the last thread, a couple of weeks ago

Hello everyone,

First off, the news of this cross-platform beta for Fortnite is really exciting. As it’s just announced, we'll be watching with interest to see how it goes!

Though we’re excited, we've nothing to announce on how this could effect Elite Dangerous in the future. However, you'll find all the information here on our forums, across our newsletters and social pages should that change.

Thanks

 

[Thetele]

Well both xbox one and PS4 support controllers, hotas and keyboard, so no controls aren't problem. For example you can plug in keyboard and mouse to your ps4 and play fortnight with keyboard without any 3rd party adapters. (if you use keyboard on console fortnight you get mm with pc players, if you use controller with other console controller players).

The biggest issue I se is that Frontier have done some stupid stuff when building xbox and ps4 versions of ed that make the data they send to servers and receive from servers be different depending on platform. Epic, ark devs, rocket league devs have said that each platform work same way in their back end so they can just press button to enable crossplay by removing something that make sure one platform only mm with same platform.

 

[DeletedUser191218]

Given that Fortnight Beta seems to have been a success is Frontier going to be adding crossplatform too
Fortnight added pc-xbox first I'm guessing that Microsoft were more up for it that PlayStation at the time maybe frontier could do the same and add playstion on once it proves popular
Or even test it on CQC for viability

Direction of travel certainly. The argument that PC users will get a tech advantage seems redundant to me. They probably will...but in reality it won't amount to material difference in the game.

 

[Mav359]

DJTruthsayer, Obs Ant, Yamiks and co were talking about this on you tube a few weeks ago, this (According to them) is NOT a technical issue FDEV simply need to throw a switch that will bring down the curtain between platforms, Sony aren't playing ball. They could open this up to just XBOX & PC but don't want to isolate the Sony community. As for the input issue they also mentioned that there was HOTAS & Keyboard & Mouse support coming to the consoles so that wont matter anyway