Crossplay has been Microsoft's big project for quite some time and now, finally, it's taking shape.
For the uninitiated, crossplay means that you'll be able to play against people on a Windows 10 PC and on Xbox One. So, say for example you purchase a game on the Windows Store on Xbox One, you can play that same game on a Windows 10 PC. You can cross formats and play against people.
Microsoft has even attempted to reach out to Sony in an attempt to get them to sign on to their Play Anywhere project, but all advances have so far been rebuffed. Meanwhile, Microsoft has released a list of games so far that are slated to come with Xbox Play Anywhere ability, including Forza Horizon 3 and Gears Of War 4.
So, what does it all actually mean? Well, for one thing, it shows that Microsoft are trying to remove the barriers for players between consoles and formats. It does mean that the experience is more homogenised, as in you'll get the same experience on a console as you'll get on a PC.
Microsoft announced at E3 that they're working on a new console - known as Project Scorpio - that'll be on par with high-end gaming PCs, boasting huge outputs and incredible graphics. It's entirely possible that this push by Microsoft is to level the playing field between PC gaming and console gaming and if Scorpio comes off, Xbox Play Anywhere will be another selling point for it.
The real question, of course, is whether or not players actually want to square off against PC players. So, over to you, does any of this sound promising or exciting? Would the ability to play on PC and Xbox convince you to swap from a PlayStation 4?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Via Microsoft