Is cross-platform gaming the future for this industry? Hugely lucrative as it is, it doesn't seem like its a necessary step and yet as the community continues to grow, bridging the gap between different users may make it even stronger. If anything, a friendly Team Microsoft and Team Sony competition can drum up a lot of organic word-of-mouth marketing that would probably make both companies winners in the end.
Originally announced by Microsoft earlier this week, stating its opening up its platform to developers to choose whether they will support cross-network play, Sony recently responded. "PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002. We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross platform play."
Cross-Platform Gaming (UPDATE)
Microsoft Invites Xbox gamers to Play PS4 players, Sony Responds
Trend Themes
1. Cross-platform Gaming - The trend of cross-platform gaming is set to continue with Microsoft and Sony both announcing plans to support it.
2. Organic Word-of-mouth Marketing - Cross-platform gaming could create opportunities for organic word-of-mouth marketing that benefits both companies involved.
3. Increased Cooperation - The move towards cross-platform gaming demonstrates a trend in increased cooperation between industry players.
Industry Implications
1. Video Gaming - The video gaming industry is at the forefront of cross-platform gaming and stands to benefit from its continued growth.
2. Technology - As cross-platform gaming becomes more prevalent, technology companies will play a larger role in facilitating connectivity and interoperability across different platforms.
3. Online Communities - Cross-platform gaming has the potential to strengthen and expand online gaming communities, making it an important trend for social networking and community-building industries.