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Valve's 'Dota Underlords' open beta launches on Android, iOS and PC
Less than a month after it was announced and just a week after being properly revealed, Dota Underlords is available for play. Valve's take on the popular Dota 2 mod, Dota Auto Chess, is a turn-based strategic battle game where players try to dominate the city of White Spire. The last Dota 2 spinoff, Artifact, did not experience the warmest reception and is undergoing major changes, but Underlords is already topping that game's peak number of players, and seemingly with good reason. It's been stress testing with Dota 2 Battle Pass owners for the last week and now anyone can try it for free. The plan is for it to remain in early access for "a few months" before it launches fully with more Underlord characters, ranked play and seasonal changes. It's available now on Steam, Google Play and the iOS App Store, complete with cross-play so you can start a game on one platform and finish it on another.
'Fortnite' will force PS4 and Xbox One players to fight each other
For years, the idea of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gamers teaming up and shooting enemies together was just a pipe dream. Walled gardens and exclusives meant picking a side and dealing with the consequences. However, thanks to the popularity of games like Fortnite, those multiplayer lobbies are now a much more accepting place. The battle royale shooter opened up last year, allowing players to find friends on other platforms and drop together. Now, Epic Games going one step further and automatically forcing PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players to fight one another every time they board the Battle Bus.
'Dauntless' wants to be the next PS4 cross-platform game
Dauntless is an online monster-hunting game from former Riot Games, Blizzard, Capcom and BioWare developers at indie outfit Phoenix Labs, and it launched in beta this May. In its current form, Dauntless is only available on PC, but that's set to change in April when it lands on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the new Epic Games Store. There's no mention of the game hitting Steam, but it's also set to come to Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms in 2019.
'Astroneer' brings space exploration to Xbox and PC on February 6th
Space exploration game Astroneer has racked up a major following in its Early Access stage. After hinting at it, the game finally has an official release date. The title from System Era Softworks will be available for Xbox One and Windows 10 starting on February 6th, 2019. It will run you $29.99 at launch.
'Rocket League' cross-platform profiles delayed until 2019
Rocket League's cross-platform profile system, RocketID, has been pushed back until early next year. Psyonix said that it's working "incredibly hard to ensure that it's as intuitive, stable and polished as possible, before releasing it to the world." When it arrives, RocketID will enable cross-platform parties and friend connections.
'Elder Scrolls: Legends' may skip PS4 due to cross-play ban
Sony's ban on cross-play for PS4 titles may create more than just inconveniences for some gamers. Bethesda's senior global marketing VP Pete Hines told Game Informer in an interview that the console version of The Elder Scrolls: Legends won't launch on any system that doesn't support cross-play -- in other words, it would skip the PS4. The card battling title revolves around an experience you can carry from device to device, Hines said, and it would be unacceptable to have one version walled off from everything else. The feature is "essentially non-negotiable," the executive said.
Sony looking for ‘solution’ to PS4 cross-play woes
Fortnite is great in that it lets people play together no matter what platform they're using. Except, that is, for PS4. Sure, PlayStation fans can link up with buddies on mobile, Mac or PC, but playing with friends who have a Nintendo Switch or Xbox One is not possible right now. Even logging into your account to play Fortnite on PS4 once means you're blocked from using it on Switch; you'll need a new account to keep playing on Nintendo's hybrid console.
Sony issues non-response to ‘Fortnite’ cross-play woes on Switch
Fortnite diehards would have been undoubtedly jubilant at the E3 announcement that the battle royale hit had come to Nintendo Switch. Its arrival was even blessed with the inclusion of native voice-chat. Yes, things were peachy until hopeful players tried logging into their Epic Games account on PlayStation 4, and realized they couldn't use their existing Epic accounts to access the game. Even though Sony wasn't directly involved in Fortnite's Switch launch, the company still had a say over how the game could be played.
'Fortnite' for Switch doesn't support PlayStation-linked accounts
If you're like many gamers, you rushed to download Fortnite for Switch as soon as it came out -- finally, console-quality battle royale on the road! You may be in for a crushing disappointment if you play on PS4, though. Players have discovered that the Switch version of Fortnite dosn't let you sign in with an Epic Games account linked to PSN, while Switch-first players can't sign in to the PS4 version. Sony's ban on cross-console play appears to be the likely reason, but it's particularly irksome here as this doesn't involve gameplay -- Sony won't even let you carry progress over to a competing product.
‘Killer Instinct’ on Steam supports Xbox One and Windows 10 cross-play
More and more games are supporting cross-play between Xbox One and Windows 10 as part of Microsoft's big "Better Together" summer push. But the newest Killer Instinct is opening the doors between those systems and Steam, allowing players on all three platforms to jam together.
'Gears of War 4' gets cross-platform multiplayer this weekend
Since the dawn of time, comment sections have had vicious debates on which gamers own the superior platform. This weekend, Microsoft are giving them the opportunity to put their K/D where their mouths are. Between December 2nd and December 5th, Microsoft will be trialing cross-platform competitive play on Gears of War 4 allowing PC and Xbox One players to duke it out.
'Minecraft' players on Windows 10 and mobile can now build together
Minecraft offers wondrous worlds for solo adventurers, but it also gives groups the perfect canvas to build on and break together. With this in mind, developer Mojang is making it easier to host your friends with cross-platform play between Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition and Minecraft: Pocket Edition. Up to five players can now join the same session on a local network with their PC, iOS, Android or Windows Phone devices. And, if you need another reason to try Microsoft's new OS, the Windows 10 version has also been updated with five-person online multiplayer over Xbox Live. Microsoft has put a ton of work into its new Xbox app for Windows 10 -- it's desperate to prove the OS is a worthy upgrade for PC gamers -- and this could make it easier for beginners to set up collaborative builds.
Wipeout HD and Fury come to Vita as 2048 DLC, free if you already have them on PS3
Wipeout HD and its Fury expansion are moving (at futuristically high speeds, we assure you) from PS3 to Vita today, in the form of two DLC packs for Wipeout 2048.The $7.99 "Wipeout HD Add-On Pack" adds the single-player mode from that game along with all the online tracks, 12 new ships, and PS3/Vita cross-play for 12 tracks not previously included in 2048. The $7.99 "Wipeout HD Fury Add-On Pack" adds 12 more tracks, another campaign, and 24 more ships.If you want to buy them both together, you can do so in a $12.99 bundle. Or, if you already happen to own one or both games on PS3, you can just download the Vita DLC for free. Conversely, if you buy one or both of these, you can get the PS3 versions for free.
Sony demos Cross-Play, announces Cross-Controller DLC for Vita and PS3
One of the things we can look forward to in the coming year from Sony is some some lovely cross-platform content that makes the worlds of the PS Vita and PS3 just a bit more tightly integrated. Games like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale will allow players to compete against each other, regardless of which Sony console they're using. The so-called cross-play functionality isn't limited to live play either, some games (including the aforementioned PS All-Stars) will allow you to save your game on one and pick up where you left off on the other. There will also be new downloadable content that will span Sony's home and portable consoles. The cross-controller DLC will come first to Little Big Planet 2, which will let you use your Vita to actually create levels on the PS3. Sadly Sony wouldn't divulge too many more details, but we can expect Battle Royale to hit shelves this holiday season. We guess this multi-screen entertainment thing is really going to take off this year.
Vita Street Fighter X Tekken has cross-platform online multiplayer with PS3 [update: screens and video]
If you have Street Fighter X Tekken on the PlayStation Vita, you'll be able to compete not only against other Vita players but against PS3 players as well. Capcom went to Rome last week to reveal PS3/Vita crossplay for the fighter, using both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. Some of those PS3 players will be using arcade sticks. Good luck!Street Fighter X Tekken on Vita will also have touch controls. Details have yet to be announced, but if they're anything like the touch controls on Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, just don't think too much about it anymore.Update: We have tons of videos and screens for you of the new Vita game; above, check out an eight-minute "episode" introducing the Vita characters; after the break, check out gameplay.%Gallery-152826%
Sony on how PS3 and Vita will play together
During the Develop conference (via Eurogamer), Sony Europe R&D manager Phil Rogers outlined some possible interactions between the PlayStation Vita and the PS3. The systems are already known to share saves across compatible games, and share some interoperable games like Wipeout 2048, but Rogers discussed some other capabilities, including some not yet seen in Vita/PS3 interaction. "PS3 can send data down to Vita and Vita can display it," he said. "You could use the unique features [of Vita] - gyroscope, touch front and back - as a control device for a PS3 game." In what could be a veiled dig at the Wii U, he also said that because you can have games running on both systems, each using its own processor, "You're not sacrificing the PS3's CPU to be able to have a rich experience on Vita." At launch, the Vita will have some cross-platform features, including scoreboards and PSN user data. "For launch we'll also have Remote Play, which does look good on Vita - I saw an early version of it running recently." Remote Play, also available on the PSP right now, allows video of compatible titles to be streamed from the PS3 for play on the PSP. Continuation Play, through which a game can be saved on one platform and played on the other, will also be available early on. The first known game to use that is Ruin.
The problem with cross-platform MMOs
Darren over at The Common Sense Gamer has brought up an interesting reason for cross-platform MMOs to never happen. The reason is that patching and updating on PCs is an easier-going process than on a console, because consoles are closed platforms with certification processes for any new incoming software updates. This is a headache for developers to figure out and possibly for the players too, since many may have to wait for the console certification before a PC version patch can go up.
PS3 vs. PC action unlikely for The Agency
In an interview with the Next Generation site, SOE CEO John Smedley noted that 'crossplay' capability in The Agency is unlikely to see the light of day. PC and PS3 controls are just too different to allow players to compete head to head, though he notes players won't be lock into one format or the other. Paying players should be able to log into the game on either the PS3 or PC as they see fit. Said Smedley, "Would the mouse player have a unique advantage? Would we have to make the auto-aiming system on the console a lot better to compensate for that? That would take some of the skill element away on the console." The company's commitment to making this game a fantastic twitch-based experience on par with something like Counter-Strike would seem to be restricting the scope of the project; a good thing, I think.%Gallery-12934%