Sony recently had to defend its decision to block PlayStation cross-play with certain Xbox and Nintendo games, but it looks like Red Dead Redemption 2 might be an exception to that stance. Though it was recently delayed by Rockstar Games, the news and rumors surrounding Red Dead Redemption 2 can be expected to continue up to the release. Adored by the masses when the original game hit shelves all the way back in 2010, the title racked up impressive sales and continues to live on through backwards compatibility and a strong, loyal following. Red Dead Redemption felt like the start of something special (despite being a sequel itself to 2004’s Red Dead Revolver), and fans will soon get to jump straight back into the action.
Officially announced in October, 2016, Red Dead Redemption 2 was originally scheduled for release in late 2017. Now it won’t hit platforms until spring 2018 at the earliest, with Rockstar Games claiming a desire to create “the best experience possible” as the reason for its pushback. Another reason may have just been revealed however, if a recent Comicbook.com scoop is to be believed.
The website says that multiple unnamed sources have confirmed Rockstar’s interest in cross-platform multiplayer for Red Dead Redemption 2, allowing players on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to come together, no matter which console they’re playing from. Discussions are said to currently be underway between Rockstar, Sony and Microsoft, but no official word on exactly how those talks are going have yet been given.
As referenced above, Sony has refused to allow its players to share a gaming platform with those playing on Xbox One. More recently, developers were denied the ability to offer cross-play on the three major consoles, a decision Sony attributed to “commercial” factors.
Hearing that we may soon be able to play some of the biggest game releases of the year with our friends no matter their console of choice is certainly an exciting prospect. There’s often been online battles between friends and strangers as to which console is better suited for gamers, but when it all comes down to having fun, those differences would likely be put aside to enjoy a multiplayer experience like none other.
In saying that, the work that must go into making cross-platform play available has to be something stellar. Supporting a multitude of players with varying latency and internet provider and the like is already a very tough job, so to double up on all of that work simply so Xbox players can team with their PS4 buddies may not be worth it for developers in the long run, even if it is one of the most consumer friendly choices manufacturers can make.
We’ll continue to bring you more on Red Dead Redemption 2 leading up to its release.
Source: Comicbook.com