Blizzard has already said it's still trying to determine if "cross-system play" would make sense for Overwatch, so what about cross-platform progression? Unfortunately, if you do intend to pick up the Switch version of the game when it arrives next month, and you've already spent a lot of time with one of the other versions on PC, Xbox One or PlayStation 4, there'll be no option but to start over again.
During an interview with our friends over at Eurogamer, Overwatch's lead game producer Matthew Hawley said "business and technical challenges" would need to be overcome in order to get cross-platform progression working properly:
Cross play and cross progression are something we've learned a lot about in the last couple of years, particularly looking at our other game Hearthstone, which has multiplatform support. We don't have anything specific to talk about today, other than say there are business and technical challenges to getting all that to work correctly. Our focus really has been just trying to get Overwatch on the Nintendo Switch so we can have all new ways to play and welcome the Nintendo community into the Overwatch community.
Hawley reiterated his previous statement when asked about a cross-save feature being added in the future:
Yeah, I mean this is something we've talked about, the industry's been evolving on this in the last couple of years and we've been actively monitoring and paying attention to what's been going on, we're just not in a place yet from a technical or a business side that we can make any sort of commitment on that front.
So, it doesn't seem like there'll be a cross-play or cross-progression added to Overwatch anytime soon. Of course, Blizzard could still surprise us with one – or both – of these features later down the line.
Are you still interested in picking up Overwatch on Switch even though it won't support these features that certain other games on the Switch have been able to include? Share your thoughts below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 28
Still buying it. Day one.
Can't help it.
Gyro controls are a thing for OW as seen from the Direct. I am curious as to how they will function.
I'm still gonna get it, never played overwatch and it looks extremely fun, can't wait for it
I was considering picking this up, but I’ll pass, seeing as the physical version is just a download code.
I don’t really understand why it requires so much thought just to allow different players on various platforms to play together. It’s an advantage for Blizzard to allow it and players win because they can play their friends who have other consoles.
If this is really about “well you have gyro aiming” then that’s sad. Just make it so players can select which platforms they want to challenge players on. Pretty simple I think, and you don’t have those guys whining they lost “because of the controller”.
Just be happy we’re getting it, because cross platform is not going to happen on this one, would just be Fortnite all over again.
Without cross-progression, this'll be a skip for me. I already have Overwatch on PS4 / PC and starting over from scratch sucks. (I can deal with 30fps plus lower visuals, and the gyro controls are really enticing too).
Despite my disappointment, I hope newcomers/veterans who get it will have fun regardless! (that's what really matters in the end) ^_^
Blizzard has any plans to bump the frame rate to 60?
used to play this for many many hours on Xbox......but I really want to play it on the go, so I don't mind putting in the hours.
"business and technical challenges"
read also as: "then we couldn't charge you again for more loot boxes"
Overwatch is a great game and I'm glad to see it on Switch but this answer is nonsense, just like it was nonsense when Overwatch came to PS4 and XB1. Drop the level down to 1 if you have to - new system, new community, new skill levels - but let people keep their damn skins. It's just skins.
Yeah makes sense.
I never plan to buy the game but it does make perfect sense to do this.
You can't have crossplatform progression if you're pulling statistics from PC and consoles, which have had people play for years now and have established ranks. What rank do you give a seasoned master player on PC when he transfers his data to the switch?
Crossplay would also be super unfair considering the superior PC platform and console players already being 3 years ahead of the switch.
In regards to cross play it'd be nice if they could matchmake via controller input so controllers will play with controllers and mouse users with mouse users, etc.
Anyway, I am not interested in the game full stop but if I were a fan I'd hate to start again.
This also would make me worry that the online 'servers' might be dead on Switch.
@Doofenshmirtz a game you definitely wont regret getting, better with friends and once you mastered a few of the characters.
Ugh I really want this on Switch as I dont have much opportunity to play my xbox anymore but I really don´t want to start again with my collection of Hanzo and McCree skins. I don´t want crossplay but cross progression should be a no brainer in this game and the only reason it´s not present is so they can hopefully charge people for lootboxes to bulk their collections up again
@Moon I’m a fan of the game, but I’m not put off by this.
The progression is just skins, character level (which has no bearing on anything) and rank.
Since I play on PC, I’m not going to be the same rank as I would be using a controller, so I’m okay with that. Collecting skins again is no real hardship, especially as they are giving you 15-20 of them at purchase. And like I said, level means nothing really.
I’m getting it on Switch because my son has wanted it for ages. He’s been watching me play on PC, but not quite able to use mouse and keyboard well enough. Now we get to play together on our Switches.
@Peterjr1 they give you about 15-20 skins on purchase, including five legendaries, so it won’t be that hard to catch up your skins?
@Kienda it definitely will take a long while to fully catch up with all the seasonal ones which are my favourites but yes, at least they give us some from the go
@Kienda I've put about 1500 hours into the game on PS4
and I haven't unlocked everything yet.
so it takes a LONG time
Cross platform can come later. Just happy it’s coming to the Switch. Much like Final Fantasy VIII Remaster, it’s a starting point and, unlike Square Enix, we can count on Blizzard to patch it later on.
There’ll be a fair amount of people to play online within the Switch Online community. Good times will be had by all!
@Peterjr1 @vitalemrecords but still, it is just cosmetics.
I have put more than 600+ hours into the PC version. A few skins missing won’t deter me personally from enjoying it on Switch.
I've played Overwatch on PC since the beginning, and I'm going to throw a few things out here for people that may be confused. The article could have been more thorough...
The only things I can think of that could have carried over on a cross save are 1) cosmetic skins and other cosmetic items that you get through loot boxes; 2) replay data; 3) your experience level and competitive ranking data. Acquired cosmetics are a sticking point I guess, but it's not like the default skins are terrible. I'm not a lootbox fan, but this is one of less offensive versions of it to me. I just wouldn't buy them.
I can understand the crossplay to a point. The PC community has always been separate from consoles because of mouse v. right stick aiming. Gyro aiming raises an interesting question, though. Personally I think what is fair would be to have Switch community to itself until it's sorted out how well the gyro aim works, then put it with PC or console.
I've heard a lot about the lack of a physical, too, and felt the need to say this. Overwatch is regularly being added to with characters, maps, game modes, seasonal events, I could go on. I am generally first in line for a physical game, but Overwatch really is more like Warframe where it makes more sense as a download. The game card just isn't that useful for this one.
What is more important is will it have native chat or stupid app?
I'm still getting the game for the Switch but a cross-platform option would have been nice. I mean, disadvantage/advantage is arguable and some would like to play with a disadvantage/advantage anyway.
That's the point of having the game on different platforms: the option to start from scratch for each platform is always there but it would be nice to be able to play over multiple platforms too.
Paladins has cross platform play with both PC and Xbox with the option to disable playing with mouse + keyboard players, as well as cross platform progression. I've come to really appreciate the luxury, and I never feel pressured to buy a skin on one device over the other because, well, it all syncs up.
For those wondering about the gyro vs PC dynamic, in Paladins at the very least, 80% of poor performance vs PC players can be chalked up largely to positioning and character choice. I can perform at about 95% of my PC ability on console if I play my cards right (pick characters who prioritise positioning and point control over technical ability and insane accuracy), and can even perform well with characters who do require solid aim if they have strong mobility options (I've performed well against local pro league players with my Switch Kinessa, for example).
Mouse and keyboard is still a step up from gyro but the discrepancy between a control pad and a mouse has shrunk drastically with the introduction of gyro aim. You can also quite easily tell when you are playing against a console player who doesn't have gyro aim, and unless they started shooting first, you'll win pretty much all encounters with a non-gyro player given your character match up is around even.
@Kienda yeah I'm not all that worried about it
and you get the skins really quick.
From a Day 1 to a Nope.
Anyone who has played an online Blizzaed game knows what it means when a Blizz exec says,
"we've been actively monitoring and paying attention to what's been going on,"
Translation: well, if I have to I will.... I guess, but waiting till the last minute to do anything about it.
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