Blizzard has introduced cross-platform play into Overwatch after promising the feature was coming earlier this month. The feature will enable friends to play with one another across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Console players will have to create account and link it to their console of choice to play.
“By default, a party of console players will play with other console players,” game director Aaron Keller explained in the video announcing the cross-play feature earlier this month. “A party of PC players will play with PC players, as well as groups that consist of both PC and console players.
Blizzard released an extensive FAQ clarifying how cross-play would work earlier this month. Progression will not carry over between platforms, and stats and ranks will not be reset. Cross-play will not work in Competitive modes, according to Keller, likely to compensate for the inherent advantage that comes with aiming with a keyboard and mouse. Console players will be able to play Competitive modes with one another, however.
To celebrate the launch of the cross-play feature, Blizzard has said that everyone who logs into Overwatch by the of the year will receive a free Golden loot box. Not a bad deal, just for logging in.