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Nintendo Talks Cross-Play, Says Conversations With Other Companies Remain Ongoing

Here is some hope for cross-play with PS4, maybe.

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Cross-play has been and continues to be one of most buzzed-about topics in gaming. Microsoft and Nintendo work together for Xbox One-Nintendo Switch cross-play with Fortnite and Minecraft, but Sony is still on the outside. Now, two Nintendo executives have spoken about the appeal of cross-play and how conversations with other companies remain ongoing.

Senior executive officer Susumu Tanaka said during a recent shareholder meeting that generally speaking Nintendo is enthusiastic about allowing cross-play with Nintendo Switch and other competing platforms. However, Tanaka acknowledged that all parties have to come to an agreement, and this can be a sticking point.

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Now Playing: Nintendo Talks Cross-Play, Says Conversations With Other Companies Remain Ongoing - GS News Update

"Crossplay basically comes about from conversations between publishers and platform holders," Tanaka said. "We are inclined to do what we can to help publishers incorporate crossplay when that is what they want. The other parties involved also have a say in whether we are able to reach this outcome or not, so we will continue to discuss it with them."

Outgoing Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima had less to share. He said he can't comment directly on cross-play support in Fortnite and Minecraft because they aren't made by Nintendo. But generally speaking, Kimishima said, "Our fundamental way of thinking about offering Nintendo titles on other platforms remains unchanged."

There is some hope that Sony will offer a cross-play solution with other consoles. Last month, PlayStation executive Shawn Layden said the company is aware of the feedback, going on to say he is sure that Sony will arrive at a solution that will be "understood and accepted by our gaming community, while at the same time supporting our business."

According to former Sony developer John Smedley, the reason Sony has not allowed cross-play support with competing consoles comes down to money. "[W]hen I was at Sony, the stated reason internally for this was money. They didn't like someone buying something on an Xbox and it being used on a PlayStation," he said.

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