The cross-platform play has been the word-of-mouth these days in the gaming sphere after Microsoft revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017 that Minecraft developers are making it possible with the sandbox game. While Microsoft reached agreements with Nintendo, Google, and Apple to include their platforms in this ground-breaking move, Sony seemed to refuse to play the ball.
No PlayStation in Microsoft's cross-platform play
Sony's head of global sales and marketing for PlayStation Jim Ryan has taken a defence over the Tokyo firm's stance towards the cross-platform play that Microsoft has been brandishing in recent days. In a conversation with Eurogamer, he explains why Sony cannot jump on the bandwagon.
"It's certainly not a profound philosophical stance we have against this. We've done it in the past", says Ryan. "Unfortunately it's a commercial discussion between ourselves and other stakeholders, and I'm not going to get into the detail of that on this particular instance".
'Mindful of responsibility'
Many PlayStation 4 owners have been enraged by Sony's decision. Ryan has further explained the rationale of not allowing PlayStation players to interact with Xbox One and Switch players, particularly pointing out the demographic of the PlayStation ecosystem. Demographically speaking, Minecraft targets the younger population which, as Ryan pointed out, may not be beyond their ability to manage.
"We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base", says Ryan. He emphasised Sony's commitment to its players once they get online. But with "children to external influences", he fears they will not be capable of looking after them.
is not sold
Microsoft, however, is not taking this explanation very openly. Xbox head Phil Spencer finds Ryan's statement about Microsoft's stance towards the safety of its Xbox players insulting and absurd. Spencer stresses out that Ryan is trying to get away from the main dialogue and making it look like Microsoft is not looking after its audience.
"We would never put Minecraft in a place where we felt like we weren't keeping our players safe", notes Spencer.
But just as Ryan said, the door of discussion remains open.
