Why Studios Are Betting Big on Crossplay
Crossplay is no longer a niche feature—it’s becoming a core strategy for major studios in 2024. With gamers spread across multiple platforms, the ability to play together is transforming how games are developed, monetized, and marketed. Here’s why leading studios are investing more heavily in cross-platform capabilities.
Expanding Player Networks and Engagement
Crossplay helps to:
- Combine smaller player bases into larger, more vibrant communities
- Boost matchmaking speed and quality
- Keep games relevant for longer periods by connecting players across consoles and PC
Studios see extended engagement as a route to greater ROI—more active players means more in-game purchases, longer subscription lifespans, and stronger word-of-mouth marketing.
Platform Politics Are Changing
Different companies are shifting their stance on crossplay:
- Sony has loosened restrictions, opening more titles to cross-platform support
- Nintendo remains selective, emphasizing caution around user experience and account security
These shifts reflect a growing recognition that walling off ecosystems may limit growth in an increasingly connected gaming culture.
Enhancing Subscriptions and Live Services
Crossplay doesn’t just benefit gameplay—it strengthens entire service models:
- Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and similar platforms gain more value when players can enjoy titles with friends across devices
- Live-service games (like battle royales, MMOs, and co-op shooters) see better metrics when platforms aren’t siloed
In short, unified access leads to higher retention and increased monetization potential.
Explore more: How Subscription Services Are Changing the Way We Play Games
Crossplay used to be a nice bonus. Now, it’s the default. In 2024, players expect to squad up or face off regardless of the device they’re using. PC, console, mobile—it shouldn’t matter. If your game doesn’t support it, it’s a red flag.
At its core, crossplay today means more than just matching players from different platforms. It’s about synced progression, shared economies, and social features that function seamlessly across ecosystems. Want to grind a battle pass on your Xbox, then finish the night on your phone? That’s not optional. It’s standard.
For players, it’s about freedom and connection. For developers, it’s both pressure and opportunity. Development cycles get more complex, but the payoff is a larger, more loyal audience. Platforms are also learning that walling off players hurts more than it helps. Expectations have shifted, and the industry is following.
Crossplay isn’t just a feature anymore. It’s table stakes.
Cross-platform gaming isn’t a novelty anymore—it’s the norm. Major titles like Fortnite, Warzone, Rocket League, and an ever-growing list of others offer full support for players no matter where they log in. Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Switch, and even mobile now play together without much friction.
Studios that once treated crossplay like a side project have changed course. Seamless integration is now expected, and it’s shaping design decisions from the ground up. The result is a more fluid experience where skill and grind travel with you.
Cross-progression seals the deal. You can switch devices and keep your loadout, cosmetics, and stats. No more starting over just because you grabbed a different controller. For players who live on multiple platforms or move between setups, it’s a practical win that’s quickly becoming the industry standard.
Friends No Longer Siloed by Hardware
Cross-platform compatibility isn’t just a gaming buzzword anymore—it’s reshaping how vlogging communities interact. Whether you’re Team iPhone, Android, PC, or console, the walls have come down. That means fans and creators can chat, comment, and collaborate without worrying about who’s using what device.
For vloggers, it’s a big deal. Viewers are no longer fragmented by platform limitations. You can build one audience and one community that stretches across mobile apps, smart TVs, web browsers, and more. The result? More interaction, less friction, and tighter engagement.
Tools like modding systems, custom matchmaking, and creator-led clan groups are also maturing fast. They’re moving beyond niche gaming streams and into mainstream vlog culture. Personalization, viewer-driven events, and community-built content are helping vloggers keep their audiences constantly plugged in—and coming back.
This unified tech stack creates chances to go broader with reach and deeper with loyalty. And that’s the kind of combination that turns casual viewers into ride-or-die fans.
Crossplay isn’t just a AAA showpiece anymore. Mid-tier and indie developers are finally stepping into the ring, and it’s not just hype. Unity and Unreal have lowered the technical barrier with smarter backend integration, making it easier for smaller teams to build once and connect everywhere. The patchwork pain of getting consoles, PCs, and mobile to talk to each other is fading.
Voice chat across platforms used to be a disaster—laggy, glitchy, or missing completely. Now, integrated crossplay voice is actually usable. It’s smoother, more reliable, and crucial for games built around squad-based or social experience. It matters when your players can talk—in real time—no matter what they’re holding.
Even the old mouse vs. controller debate is getting addressed. Competitive balancing tools are catching up, giving developers more ability to matchpad with pad, mouse with mouse, or level the playing field by tweaking aim assist and dead zones.
Bottom line: Crossplay is no longer optional for studios that want reach. And in 2024, building for it is less painful, more powerful, and finally worth the effort.
Crossplay Is Becoming the Norm
Cross-platform play is no longer a novelty—it’s quickly becoming an expectation. As we approach 2025, gamers aren’t just hoping for crossplay support, they’re demanding it.
Crossplay as a Standard Feature by 2025
Developers who want to stay competitive are now prioritizing crossplay as a core feature rather than a post-launch bonus. By 2025, support across major platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and even mobile is expected to be the baseline.
- Players want connectivity regardless of hardware
- Cross-platform matchmaking is improving in quality and fairness
- Games that lack crossplay are increasingly seen as outdated
New Genres Entering the Crossplay Landscape
While crossplay has been mostly dominant in FPS and battle royale titles, industry trends suggest a much wider adoption ahead.
Genres likely to join the crossplay movement:
- MMORPGs: With more persistent worlds, MMOs are prime candidates for unified communities
- VR titles: As VR gaming expands, shared experiences across headsets and ecosystems will be key
- Strategy and simulation games: Touch-friendly and mouse-keyboard hybrid controls make these genres ripe for innovation
Gamers Are Driving the Push Toward Open Ecosystems
Ultimately, the future of crossplay is being shaped by players themselves. The demand for flexibility, shared progression, and access to friends across devices is pressuring developers and platforms to break down old walls.
- Community feedback is influencing development roadmaps
- Fragmentation creates friction, while seamless access creates loyalty
- Cross-save, shared inventories, and unified accounts are becoming essential features
Developers who embrace open ecosystems now stand to build stronger, more engaged player communities in the years ahead.
Crossplay: The New Standard, Not a Luxury
Crossplay Is Now an Expectation
Cross-platform play is no longer just a nice-to-have feature. In today’s gaming landscape, it’s expected. Gamers want the freedom to play with friends, regardless of platform, and developers who recognize this are reaping the rewards.
- Players expect seamless experiences across PC, console, and mobile
- Games launching without crossplay are increasingly seen as outdated
- Communities now form around games, not platforms
Studios That Ignore It Fall Behind
Ignoring crossplay in 2024 is a risk. Studios that fail to implement it may struggle with retention and engagement, especially in multiplayer titles.
- Competitive titles thrive when platforms unite
- Lack of crossplay can limit matchmaking speeds and fragment communities
- New releases are being judged on this feature at launch
Breaking Down Walls Builds Stronger Communities
When players can connect across systems, the entire ecosystem benefits. Crossplay encourages inclusivity, fosters bigger communities, and turns games into longer-lasting experiences.
- Cross-platform social features are growing in importance
- Player loyalty increases when access barriers are removed
- Games with shared progression and crossplay maximize player investment
Cheating remains one of the thorns in the side of the vlogging and gaming overlap. Whether it’s influencers covering competitive scenes or lifestyle vloggers jumping into co-op gameplay, moderation issues are hard to ignore. Bots, exploits, and cheap hacks still run wild in some online ecosystems, frustrating both players and creators trying to keep things fair and watchable.
Crossplay sounds great—until you’re actually trying to stream or collaborate with someone halfway across the world who can’t join your lobby due to region locks or platform limitations. Despite all the promises, true cross-platform play is still gated for many titles. That fragmented experience spills into content too. Vloggers who bridge communities have to juggle multiple systems, accounts, and bugs just to keep the footage rolling.
Then there’s privacy. With mixed-age audiences and younger viewers tuning in, creators are forced to navigate a minefield of platform-specific controls, content filters, and parental settings that vary widely. Some platforms still lag behind in giving creators the tools to responsibly manage content visibility. For vloggers—especially family-focused or youth-centered ones—it’s not just about making videos anymore. It’s managing a cross-platform compliance checklist just to stay out of trouble.