Week 6 - Forefront Friday: Xbox and Nintendo Switch Crossplay

For the first time Nintendo and Microsoft, two of the world’s leading video game companies are working together to bring cross-console compatibility to their games. Minecraft (2011) has become one of the industry's first fully cross platform games. Gamers from Xbox, PC, Smart Phone and Nintendo Switch can now play the game together regardless of which console they are using. 

The Minecraft cross-play trailer for the Nintendo Switch.

It was somewhat surreal for me watching the announcement from Nintendo and seeing an Xbox controller in the trailer. It is particularly interesting that the two rival companies Microsoft and Nintendo are now openly advertising for each other's game system. I feel this is a red letter moment in the history of the gaming industry because it feels like this is very much a pro consumer approach. 

I believe cross platform gaming is at the forefront of innovation within the gaming industry. Now that mainstream games are becoming compatible across multiple systems, I could be starting my career as a games artists at the beginning of a new paradigm in the industry. One that requires the game art to be optimised for use across a variety of different game system architecture. This could mean that the practices employed across the industry become increasingly unified, to help games have better compatibility with one another.

I believe it will be crucial in the coming months to monitor current industry practice and adhere to these design concepts in my own work in order to remain competitive within these new business practices.

GORDON, R. (2018) Microsoft & Nintendo Emphasize Minecraft Cross-Play Together While PlayStation Sits By Itself. [Online] Available from: https://screenrant.com/minecraft-microsoft-nintendo-cross-play/ [Accessed: 29th June 2018].

NINTENDO (2018) Minecraft Cross-Play Trailer - Nintendo Switch. [Online Video]. June 21st. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l8nJ_liqrw. [Accessed: June 29th 2018].