Ever since Nintendo’s breaking announcement that the Switch version of Fortnite would offer cross-platform play with PC, Xbox One, and mobile, Sony has been under fire by gamers and critics alike for being the odd one out. The industry titan’s recalcitrance in the face of backlash has been questionable, as the company then doubled down on its decision by locking the accounts of Playstation players to the console itself. What’s more, its fellow competitors have similarly pounced on the opportunity to strike back at this outdated policy, rolling out passive aggressive ads that highlight the benefits of truly open multiplayer experience.
During this year’s IFA Technology Show in Berlin, Sony Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida finally broke the company’s silence in regards to the baffling decision. In an audacious statement, he indicates that the Playstation 4 is the premiere console to experience the game, and thus there will be no compromise when it comes to the purity of gameplay.
According to the Press Association (via Independent), Kenichiro states, “On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief.” There’s little chance that gamers will quietly accept this justification, but at the very least the company has finally addressed the issue at hand. “I think competition is always good. Healthy, fair competition is always good for the industry and growth,” he said. “I think competition with Nintendo and Xbox is a healthy situation.”
For now, those hoping that the 125-million strong Fortnite gaming community will finally get to interact fully with one another are out of luck. Sony’s isolationist policy will likely remain for the time being, undoubtedly bolstered by its string of successes in first-party exclusives. The Playstation brand recently broke 500 million units sold in its lifetime, and the number will likely climb with the strength of its upcoming core lineup. Despite mounting pressure by fans and industry alike, Sony likely has no incentive to break its stance while it enjoys soaring sales and perpetual profitability; console exclusives all but guarantee that gamers will find it difficult to quit the platform.