Kenichiro Yoshida, President and CEO, Sony Corporation (left), and Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. The two tech companies are teaming up on the development of cloud gaming systems. Microsoft and Sony usually battle it out for dominance in console video games. But in the growing realm of cloud gaming, in which games stream over the internet just as Netflix does, the two tech titans have decided to team up. Their collaboration, announced on Thursday, focuses on developing improved cloud delivery of games and other content, as well as delivery of Sony's current services using Microsoft Azure data center platform.

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.

When platforms holders like Microsoft and Nintendo facilitate cross-play between a game on different consoles, that's awesome. When those same platform holders team up to release a trailer enthusiastically promoting the freedom of cross-play with one of the most popular, enduring games on the planet? That might leave Sony shaking in their boots. Today Nintendo released a trailer for the Minecraft cross-play update on Switch, and it's far from the usual fare. Before we get into it, watch the Fortnite trailer Epic debuted at E3.

One of the world's most popular video games is getting a major update on one of the hottest game consoles on the market. More than a year after its release, the Nintendo Switch version of "Minecraft" will soon allow players to build blocky worlds with their friends across the Xbox, PC, mobile and VR platforms. Developer Mojang announced Thursday that the Switch version of "Minecraft" will get the Bedrock update on June 21. It will fold in the Better Together update that added cross-platform play to other consoles last year, as well as exclusive "Super Mario"-themed content that originally appeared in the Wii U version of "Minecraft." Minecraft Bedrock edition hits Nintendo Switch on June 21st!

Minecraft players on Nintendo Switch will soon build massive forts and slay monsters with more of their friends. The sandbox phenomenon will get cross-platform support when the Bedrock update arrives on the console June 21 -- gamers can play with their buddies across Switch, Xbox One, PC, mobile and VR. The update brings the Switch version on par with those other platforms. It gives players access to the Minecraft Marketplace, now letting them buy skins, texture packs and maps created by the community. Minecraft will also support achievements and Gamerscore on Switch.

The Better Together update brings the biggest set of changes to hit Minecraft in years, expanding the Community Marketplace, streamlining access to third-party servers and uniting the game across platforms -- and it's all live today. Well, most of it is. Better Together is rolling out across Xbox One, Windows 10, virtual reality and mobile versions of Minecraft right now, but it won't hit the Switch until later this year. Microsoft's original plan, which it unveiled at E3 in June, was to launch Better Together on Switch at the same time as the other platforms (hence the title of the update). PlayStation 4 was never part of the equation for this initial roll-out.

Last September, Minecraft-developer Mojang surprised many by adding the option for anyone with the Windows 10, Windows Phone, iOS and Android versions of the game to quarry together in the same blocky worlds. But there was a catch: Everyone had to be on the same local network, relegating collaborative endeavors to house parties. Mojang has confirmed cross-platform play (Windows 10, Windows Phone, iOS and Android) is coming to Minecraft Realms, its subscription-based hosting service. Around since 2013, Realms turns Minecraft server hosting over to Mojang for 8 a month, removing the technical busywork of setting up your own server, and ensuring your worlds are available 24/7. If you're an Android user, the Realms Android Alpha is both free and available immediately, though you'll need to set up an Xbox Live account (if you don't have one) to sign in. Mojang isn't saying when the final version will be ready, but confirms it'll support cross-platform play between iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows 10 at launch.