How Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare's Cross-Play Feature Works

After Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's reveal last week, Activision confirmed the shooter will feature cross-play between PS4, Xbox One, and PC players. This will allow you to play MW's multiplayer mode with and against those on any platform, rather than being restricted only to those on the same hardware as you are. It's unclear at this point how much of a presence the game will have at E3 2019, particularly given the game's PS4 DLC exclusivity arrangement and that fact that Sony isn't at E3. But in the meantime we're continuing to learn more about Modern Warfare, including just how will cross-play work. A big question has concerned whether keyboard and mouse users will have an advantage against those using a controller. Developer Infinity Ward has now shed a bit more light on the mechanics of the big new feature.

Modern Warfare's cross-play system will work much like Fortnite's, according to a Forbes article endorsed by Infinity Ward producer Candice Capen. You'll therefore only be put into matches against players using the same control input method as you--meaning PC users won't be able to use the quicker keyboard and mouse combination to walk all over console players.

This does change slightly if you're a console user wanting to play with a PC-owning friend, however. In that situation, Infinity Ward has no choice but to mix the two communities, so you might find yourself having a slightly tricky match. But at least the option is there.

Activision also revealed last week that the new Call of Duty will not have a season pass system. Instead, all post-launch maps and events will be free for all players.

Both this and cross-play should go a long way to helping keep the Call of Duty player base together, without limiting them to only playing with people on the same platform and who own the same maps that they do. In general, there should be a whole lot more people to play against. It may also make the Call of Duty esports scene a little more welcoming, as players will be able to compete on their preferred platforms.

One thing that is not changing is that it will have timed exclusive content on PS4. We don't know all the details at this point, but like last year's Black Ops 4, the window will be only seven days, which is much shorter than the 30-day window CoD's exclusivity used to be.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's release date has been set for October 25.