Sony Responds to Microsoft's Invite to Connect Xbox One and PS4 Networks

Sony has issued an encouraging but indecisive response to Microsoft’s invitation to unite the online networks of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One within certain games.

On Monday Microsoft publicly invited other platform holders to allow the same games to be played online across different console networks. Such an unprecedented move, if enacted, could bring an end to more than a decade of segregation between the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

Sony’s response, issued one day later to GameSpot, suggests the market-leading platform holder remains open-minded about cross-console play but stopped short of discussing a deal with Xbox Live.

"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,” reads the statement from the corporation.

“We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross platform play."

Sony's response was to a direct question about whether it would be interested in working with Microsoft.

It is unclear how to read into Sony’s decision to avoid mentioning other console platform holders in its statement, whether that means it is still evaluating its options or is outright against such plans. GameSpot has contacted the corporation for further clarification.

On Monday Microsoft made the eye-catching announcement that it will support cross-platform play between Xbox One, Windows 10, and other "online multiplayer networks." The move effectively opens the Xbox Live platform so that it can accommodate players on other game networks.

The first Xbox One game announced to take advantage of this cross-platform connectivity will be Rocket League, which will soon allow Xbox One and PC customers to play against each other online.

Such a feature is already present in the PS4 version, which has always allowed PSN players to set up matches with players on Steam.

But Microsoft has indicated that it now wants to bridge the gap between its console and Sony’s, and went as far as saying the ground-work had been complete. On Monday its indie developer director Chris Charla said:

"In addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we're enabling developers to support cross-network play as well.

"This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks--including other consoles and PC networks."