Fortnite

In an interesting turn of events, Sony has announced that the PS4 version of Fortnite will receive cross-platform play starting from today, allowing players to play against those on other platforms for the first time.

When Fortnite first launched on Switch, Sony came under fire from fans, press, and even Nintendo for refusing to allow cross-play between the two systems. Matters were intensified thanks to the fact that Sony chose to actively block PS4 players from using their accounts on Switch, too, effectively attempting to force players to stick with its own platform.

The announcement comes via Sony's official PlayStation Twitter accounts, where the cross-platform inclusion has been introduced as an open beta which starts today. The company has also issued an extended statement, which begins with a quick explanation of the turnaround.

"Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content. We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution."

The beta will support cross-play between PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac, aiming to ensure the service's quality, while also keeping an eye on the "user experience from both a technical and social perspective".

As Sony indicates, this represents a major policy change for the company and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops. For now, though, Switch fans can finally play with their Fortnite friends on PS4 - and that's something to celebrate.

As always, feel free to share your opinions on the matter down below.

[source blog.eu.playstation.com, via twitter.com]