Microsoft Supports Cross-Platform Play

NewBlacksmurf · March 2016

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

This is good

Whatzituyah · March 2016

dsalter wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

saddly i knew about this from the last post i started, but i'm still crossing my fingers for the future, my only concern is character and account names when merged could be the same as others

Free character name change?

Lexxypwns · March 2016

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

Idk why I still expect anything good from this game, typical

Whatzituyah · March 2016

Lexxypwns wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

Idk why I still expect anything good from this game, typical

Lets be patient businesses sometimes don't jump on something new right away.

NewBlacksmurf · March 2016

Lexxypwns wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

Idk why I still expect anything good from this game, typical

I think from ZOS' position, nothing was actually announced. Its different if Microsoft came to ZOS along with Sony, suggesting specific XYZ has changed and they both will do XYZ on specific dates in order to allow this.

This is just as another wrote...something that sounds good (PR statement) but from a technical stand point, a lot has to change on both PSN and Xbox Live first which has not occurred and what about Steam games with Xbox Live too.

UrQuan · March 2016

Xendyn wrote: »

To sum up what I'm seeing here, there's at least 3 big reasons why not.

Add ons. Even if ZOS put the combat and buff tracking ones in, we'd soon hear complaints about other ones such as MM, Awesome Guild Store, Skyshards, Lorebooks, Cyrhud etc. "It's not fair they can sell better/buy better/see more info in Cyro/level skill lines faster"

Communications. How do you hook them all up?

Patches. Hell no, I don't want to wait for the console manufacturers to approve them when I don't need to.

Don't see it happening. ZOS doesn't want to do that much work and many players from all platforms would be unhappy.

Actually, there a couple of other big issues that could keep it from happening too.

Server capacity. I doubt if they can really combine the servers without running into significant scaling issues due to combining the populations.

Data migration/merging. This would just be a mess. What happens if user A has a character named Bob on PC, while user B has a character named Bob on Xbox, and user C has a character named Bob on PS4? And what about the PC transfers to console - how do they figure out which set of characters gets overwritten by the other?

So while I think it would be nice to get to play with some of the console folks, I kind of don't see it happening for the reasons you list, as well as the reasons I list.

Greiver · March 2016

TheValkyn wrote: »

Enodoc wrote: »

I think console/PC would be unlikely, but perhaps PS4/XB1 would be possible. I agree on the server stability issue though.

@Enodoc The console MMORPG competition supports crossplay. It would be foolish not to at least at some point down the road. PC players would absolutely slaughter console players though. The PC PvP is much faster pace. DC Universe Online just launched crossplay between Playstation Network and PC players. I actually didn't notice any down time either except during scheduled maintenance. Probably the most successful feat like that in a long time.

Dcuo actually did that almost 2 years ago now. It worked pretty well too.

AfkNinja · March 2016

Whatzituyah wrote: »

Took an admin to derail the hype train. I wonder what a derailed hype train looks like.

Moglijuana · March 2016

Ps4 vs. Xbox would be awesome! That would increase the life span of the console version of the MMO by a few years. PC would never be mixed in because they would have a distinct advantage. Besides, some of these PC players are too "Elite" for the rest of us peasants

Whatzituyah · March 2016

UrQuan wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

To sum up what I'm seeing here, there's at least 3 big reasons why not.

Add ons. Even if ZOS put the combat and buff tracking ones in, we'd soon hear complaints about other ones such as MM, Awesome Guild Store, Skyshards, Lorebooks, Cyrhud etc. "It's not fair they can sell better/buy better/see more info in Cyro/level skill lines faster"

Communications. How do you hook them all up?

Patches. Hell no, I don't want to wait for the console manufacturers to approve them when I don't need to.

Don't see it happening. ZOS doesn't want to do that much work and many players from all platforms would be unhappy.

Actually, there a couple of other big issues that could keep it from happening too.

Server capacity. I doubt if they can really combine the servers without running into significant scaling issues due to combining the populations.

Data migration/merging. This would just be a mess. What happens if user A has a character named Bob on PC, while user B has a character named Bob on Xbox, and user C has a character named Bob on PS4? And what about the PC transfers to console - how do they figure out which set of characters gets overwritten by the other?

So while I think it would be nice to get to play with some of the console folks, I kind of don't see it happening for the reasons you list, as well as the reasons I list.

Bob 1, Bob 2, Bob 3?

Like you know thing 1 and thing 2?

Alright I got no ideas about that.

NewBlacksmurf · March 2016

UrQuan wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

To sum up what I'm seeing here, there's at least 3 big reasons why not.

Add ons. Even if ZOS put the combat and buff tracking ones in, we'd soon hear complaints about other ones such as MM, Awesome Guild Store, Skyshards, Lorebooks, Cyrhud etc. "It's not fair they can sell better/buy better/see more info in Cyro/level skill lines faster"

Communications. How do you hook them all up?

Patches. Hell no, I don't want to wait for the console manufacturers to approve them when I don't need to.

Don't see it happening. ZOS doesn't want to do that much work and many players from all platforms would be unhappy.

Actually, there a couple of other big issues that could keep it from happening too.

Server capacity. I doubt if they can really combine the servers without running into significant scaling issues due to combining the populations.

Data migration/merging. This would just be a mess. What happens if user A has a character named Bob on PC, while user B has a character named Bob on Xbox, and user C has a character named Bob on PS4? And what about the PC transfers to console - how do they figure out which set of characters gets overwritten by the other?

So while I think it would be nice to get to play with some of the console folks, I kind of don't see it happening for the reasons you list, as well as the reasons I list.

Yep...yep

The only way this works is if ZOS were to create a completely new server for cross platform play...
But then, if its like what occurred when I moved from PC to console, there would by an account copy and no sync between the old and new servers.

Along with that...all you mention above and I doubt ppl would want to start all over. Its just a lot to try and do considering the game isn't even running good on any of three platforms right now. I have my personal reasons but those aside, I would definitely quit if they tried this, cause its all a mess right now separate.

badbeansnub18_ESO · March 2016

YES! I want to be able to play on PC with my xbox/Ps4 friends.

dsalter · March 2016

Whatzituyah wrote: »

dsalter wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

saddly i knew about this from the last post i started, but i'm still crossing my fingers for the future, my only concern is character and account names when merged could be the same as others

Free character name change?

but then you risk the fact of who deserves to keep theirs and who has to sacrifice.

dsalter · March 2016

i wonder if dungeon groups could atleast be pick up grouped cross server. this would be atleast a great idea rather than a full server merge.

GreenSoup2HoT · March 2016

JD2013 wrote: »

Console players would make good cannon fodder for PC players I guess?

I can't see them doing this though. Not sure the servers are stable enough.

I got 1 thing to say.....

BRING IT ON! :P

NoMoreChillies · March 2016

would love to play with console gamers
more the merrier

TequilaFire · March 2016

Well this game is too far along for them to integrate the changes so ZOS doesn't seem to be interested.
But on the subject of addons I thought I would miss mine more than I do when I transferred from PC to PS4.
Turns out I play PvP better without them, go figure.

KhajiitiLizard · March 2016

I don't see any reason why they couldn't do Xbox and PS4 together.

WalkingLegacy · March 2016

bedlom wrote: »

Lmao PC would get destroyed by console players on this.
Just like they are on DCUO now.
This ain't BF or COD, click and shoot ain't the mechanics here.

Dumbest thing I've read all day. Thanks for the laughs!

KatzMainTank · March 2016

This is the least of what I want from ESO, and more importantly what I would want ZoS to be focusing on. Don't get me wrong, cross-platform play on ANY game would be awesome! However, coating dung with honey and powder sugar doesn't change the fact that it's still dung...but slightly easier to swallow.

Enodoc · March 2016

LostScot wrote: »

Enodoc wrote: »

"Microsoft has announced its support for Cross-Network Play, allowing Xbox owners to play games with anyone on PC or PlayStation." This was one of the reasons that there has been no cross-platform support for ESO (that being, Microsoft wouldn't allow it). Now that Microsoft have given the green light for it, such things may be possible.

While Microsoft may allow it there's still the PlayStation agreements to be addressed. Speaking from game development experience it's far less profitable for a development house to release a game on the Playstation Network that allows for cross-platform gameplay. In some cases consent is outright refused, meaning the only option is to set up specific servers for the Playstation community.

Coincidentally there were previously no restrictions preventing developers releasing cross-platform games on the Xbox One, it is entirely up to the game developer to support multiple account systems to facilitate cross-platform gameplay and implement the infrastructure required. The only difference now with the introduction of Cross-Network Play is Microsoft are now providing a development framework to make it easier for indie developers to implement in their titles.

Microsoft have had support for cross-platform gameplay available to developers for quite some time now. Visual Studio has had in-built support for Unity 3D's excellent cross-platform capability as well as the ability to target iOS and Android apps directly since VS2013. The MSDN site has a number of articles going back over more than 10 years covering various aspects of cross-platform game development.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Microsoft have never been the obstacle here.

Well that wasn't what I'd heard before. When this was discussed in passing back at console launch, the belief was that Sony would support it in theory (based on their track record), and Microsoft were the stumbling block. That's why I thought the news was post-worthy; the one stumbling block that would prevent it (on the first party side) is no longer an issue.

ZOS deciding not to make use of the changes is a different matter, of course, and I wouldn't expect them to ever decide to do cross-platform between PC and console, as the gameplay styles are too different. Cross-platform between PS4 and XB1 is what this thread is about, and while Gina says they currently have no plans for it, that doesn't mean that their plans won't change in the future.

TheValkyn · March 2016

TequilaFire wrote: »

PC players might find out they aren't so "Master" after all!

After playing both versions I will tell you that without an ounce of a doubt that the quality of gameplay on the PC is far superior than that of the PS4. I haven't played the XBox One version but the PS plays extremely slow. My guess is due to a gamepad as the HID instead of a keyboard and mouse.

TheValkyn · March 2016

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Just to confirm, we do not have plans to support this new feature. If that changes, though, we'll be sure to let you know.

Your loss.

Docmandu · March 2016

Zone chat would immediately turn into a "my platform is better than yours" rant.

Robbmrp · March 2016

Hell yeah. I'll play against anyone regardless of platform.

HakanEpic · March 2016

Whatzituyah wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

To sum up what I'm seeing here, there's at least 3 big reasons why not.

Add ons. Even if ZOS put the combat and buff tracking ones in, we'd soon hear complaints about other ones such as MM, Awesome Guild Store, Skyshards, Lorebooks, Cyrhud etc. "It's not fair they can sell better/buy better/see more info in Cyro/level skill lines faster"

Communications. How do you hook them all up?

Patches. Hell no, I don't want to wait for the console manufacturers to approve them when I don't need to.

Don't see it happening. ZOS doesn't want to do that much work and many players from all platforms would be unhappy.

Actually, there a couple of other big issues that could keep it from happening too.

Server capacity. I doubt if they can really combine the servers without running into significant scaling issues due to combining the populations.

Data migration/merging. This would just be a mess. What happens if user A has a character named Bob on PC, while user B has a character named Bob on Xbox, and user C has a character named Bob on PS4? And what about the PC transfers to console - how do they figure out which set of characters gets overwritten by the other?

So while I think it would be nice to get to play with some of the console folks, I kind of don't see it happening for the reasons you list, as well as the reasons I list.

Bob 1, Bob 2, Bob 3?

Like you know thing 1 and thing 2?

Alright I got no ideas about that.

Or they could add a prefix before the names like:
[Xbox]Bob [Pc]Bob [Playstation]Bob

I know it would ruin the emersion but that's to only way I can think of that could help the name issue.

waterfairy · March 2016

Zenimax might not be willing to support cross-play with ESO but DCUO recently merged their PC and PS servers, and the game will come out on Xbox soon....the dream of uniting all platforms might finally be realized soon and the hilarious trolling will ensue

AddictionX · March 2016

YES i want to fight some xb1 and ps4 players specifically

Dont you all dare try to keep this from happening its for the betterment of MANKIND

waterfairy · March 2016

UrQuan wrote: »

. What happens if user A has a character named Bob on PC, while user B has a character named Bob on Xbox, and user C has a character named Bob on PS4? And what about the PC transfers to console - how do they figure out which set of characters gets overwritten by the other?

It doesn't matter as we still have to suffer through the eyesore of seeing gamertags instead of our character names so they could just default all of our character names to our gamertag as the only other place I see them in game is when creating gear.

THEDKEXPERIENCE · March 2016

We already have Vet and non-vet campaigns, and CP and non-CP campaigns. If they ever did this why wouldn't there be add on and no add on campaigns?

Some people are extremely gung-*** about PC's superiority, then say they will quit if add ons were removed. Personally I think the best players are the ones that can do the most with the least, but clearly some people think the ones that can do the most with the most are better. Regardless of which boat you're in separating the campaigns based on add ons or not seems pretty easy to do.