Sony’s Reluctant Cross-Play Stance Is Understandable From A Business Perspective, Says Dev

While Sony’s frustratingly reluctant cross-platform play policy is something that has been a source of frustration for many, many players, there are also quite a few who feel like their hesitance to enable complete cross-play with the Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch (barring a few notable cases) is something that makes sense from a business perspective.

That is the camp that Dave Bars, founder of BARS Studios – whose multiplayer fast-paced shooter SHiRO 011 recently entered early access on Steam – is in as well. Recently, while speaking with GamingBolt, Bars said that though players’ frustrations were understandable, by and large, being the market leaders, it was also understandable that Sony would want to maintain its position at the top by compelling more people to buy their systems.

“There are several reasons why you choose one console over the other,” Bars said. “Exclusive games, brand sympathy etc. But there is also a very strong reason, which is one of the most important ones. ‘All my friends are playing on console xy’. Once you decide to buy the other console, you decide not being able to play with your friends.”

“‘I am buying a PlayStation because all my friends are playing on a PlayStation’ is one key argument that has a great impact on sales,” he continued. “It makes no sense for Sony to renounce that, since they have significantly higher sales figures than Xbox.

“So from a gamer’s perspective this is really disappointing, because everyone wants to choose his/her favorite console and being able to play with friends across platforms. But from a business point of view it is comprehensible.”

Bars, however, also feels like despite Sony’s decisions making sense from a business perspective right now, the next generation of consoles should hopefully make cross-platform support a staple feature. “Yes of course,” he told GamingBolt when asked about the same. “Secause you want to play with your friends and there is nothing more disappointing than not being able to play with them because they use a different platform.”

BARS Studios’ SHiRO 011 is currently in early access on Steam. Our full interview with Dave Bars will be going live soon, so stay tuned for the whole thing.