PlayStation 4 opens up cross-platform play, starting with Fortnite

Sony has announced that it will be opening up cross-platform play on its PlayStation 4 console, beginning with Fortnite today. Until now, players on a PlayStation 4 console could only play multiplayer games with other PS4 owners, whereas Xbox One, PC, mobile and Nintendo Switch players were free to intermingle online. This has long been a source of frustration for players with friends or family who play on other consoles, and those who like to play the same game on more than one device. The wall between the PS4 and other consoles has been a particular problem for open games such as Fortnite, Rocket League and Minecraft, which are playable on different devices. It has meant that players' progress and purchases could not be transferred between a PS4 and other platforms, keeping players locked into Sony's closed system.