Sony pleasantly surprised Fortnite players today by finally enabling cross-platform play on PlayStation 4. In an announcement today on the PlayStation Blog, Sony revealed its plans for an extended Fortnite cross-play beta, which starts today. The open beta will allow Fortnite players to play together with one another across all platforms, which include consoles and mobile devices.
“Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content,” said Sony. “We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution.”
Cross-play on PS4 means that Fortnite players will be able to queue up with players on other platforms, including PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac, as well as iOS and Android devices. Sony is using the open beta as a chance to “conduct thorough testing that ensures cross-platform play is best on PlayStation, while being mindful about the user experience from both a technical and social perspective.”
Thanks to our partners at @PlayStation, Fortnite cross-platform play is now live on PS4! Read their blog post for first details: https://t.co/ymvnyasbpN
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) September 26, 2018
Cross-play will allow players to access the same Fortnite account from any device. Player progress will be preserved as well, along with any purchases or unlocks made on an account. Issues arose when Sony barred cross-play account access for Switch users who had played Fortnite on PS4. Enabling cross-play on PS4 should not only alleviate these issues, it should also open up the possibilities for other multiplayer games to enjoy the benefits of cross-platform play in the future.
“Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players,” Sony explains. “In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.”
Sony’s Fortnite cross-play beta announcement arrives just in time for Season 6, which is scheduled to kick off on September 27. Be sure to check back here for details on all the new features and Battle Pass rewards in Fortnite Season 6.
