Sony has never been that great at savoring a victory lap. Whenever the company seizes control of the video game industry with a top-selling console, arrogance and disregard for consumers start flowing from the company in ways that would make even Nintendo blush. We saw it with the $599 PlayStation 3 launch price… and similarly, we now see it with the debate around cross-platform play.
Microsoft, needing something to keep itself in the game, and even stonewall Nintendo have decided to combine forces with PC servers and allow for players to play across gaming platforms in the hit free-to-play sensation, Fortnite.
Sony, on the other hand, has refused outright for various reasons since the debate erupted at the beginning of the summer. Until now, Sony hasn’t given a direct reason for wanting to keep to itself, but Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida recently gave a little insight when speaking at IFA in Berlin.
“On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief.”
“But actually, we already opened some games as cross-platform with PC and some others, so we decide based on what is the best user experience. That is our way of thinking for cross-platform.”
In other words, PlayStation simply believe it’s too good to play with others, and if you’re playing Fortnite on a rival console, you’re doing it wrong. Of course, this is the cynical translation most gamers are taking from this out-of-touch response, but the truth is, the console developers all use this line from time to time. Saying your console is the best place to play is a textbook response to criticisms that involve rival consoles.
It’s just that when Sony uses the response while being on the losing side of the argument, it come back to haunt them. Fornite isn’t the kind of game that players are looking for the best experience, it’s the kind of game that players want the best community, which usually means the largest. Specs, performance, the usual console arguments don’t matter when you know that others are battling against a much larger pool of opponents.
Seriously, Sony. Fortnite can be played on a smartphone for Pete’s sake! Fortnite is the same experience no matter where you look, and saying your Fornite is better than other’s is just blowing smoke. Try again.
