Sony"s decision to not only block cross-play between PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch players, but also restrict their ability to use the same account to log into Fortnite, has been the source of a ton of negative PR for the company. It has even allowed Microsoft and Nintendo to tout their own wares at Sony"s expense.
All the criticism may finally be having an effect, it seems, as Sony Interactive Entertainment America"s CEO, Shawn Layden, indicated in a recent interview that the company might be working on a solution, after all, following its rather muted response to the Fornite controversy. He said,
“We’re hearing it. We’re looking at a lot of the possibilities. You can imagine that the circumstances around that affect a lot more than just one game. I’m confident we’ll get to a solution which will be understood and accepted by our gaming community, while at the same time supporting our business."
Of course, the statement makes an appealing promise but provides little in the way of details such as when we might see the purported "solution" being put into effect or what it may look like. Will Sony simply allow players to use the same account across different platforms or is it finally willing to open up its platform and allows players on other consoles to share a game with PS4 players?
Time will tell, though it seems the gaming giant is simply trying to put out the fire, and hoping to buy some time before it comes out with a definitive stance on the matter. Agreeing to open up its platform would certainly help appease its player base and restore some of Sony"s lost credibility. On the other hand, Sony may pay a hefty financial price due to lost sales of both consoles and the proceeds it would receive when players bought in-game currency for Fortnite on their PS4.