EndWar dev: PS3 360 cross platform is 'impossible'

Ubisoft "wished" it could allow PS3 and Xbox 360 owners to play upcoming voice-command strategy game Tom Clancy's EndWar against each other but decided it was "impossible" because Sony and Microsoft "don't like speaking to each other", Julian Gerighty, editorial content director at Ubisoft Shanghai told VideoGamer.com at Ubidays last week.

EndWar, which is set for release on Xbox 360 and PS3 simultaneously this October or November, is a console-only strategy game which can be played entirely through voice command. Set in the near future, players pick from the Americans, Europeans and Russians and attempt to dominate the world in WW3.

[ENNO]

Microsoft would not like to their paying customers to play non playing customers on the other console....amd in this case, its actually holding the industry back by not getting more creative with things!

[Fishy Fingers]

I've said this before, it would be a hugely welcomed feature in games such as Street Fighter 4, then the "rivals" can battle it with micro rather an forum space!

But like the article says, getting them to sit in a room together will never happen. Say you have a PS3, Sony want your friends to buy a PS3 so they can play against you, not going to happen if you could happily battle your friend on his 360 all day (& the other way around).

[Xakep]

God cross platform fighting games would make my life a bit easier, my asshat friend refuses to get a PS3 (while incessantly complaining about not being able to play MGS4) and yells at me everytime I buy a multiplat on the PS3 for the PSN. And I'm not paying for Live anymore unless I absolutely must play the game online.

[fenderputty]

Which might be part of the problem. As the first poster said, this might be more then just MS and Sony not getting along. The fact that one population of gamers is paying to play the game might not go so well for MS. Word of mouth tends to sway peoples decisions.

still ... I would welcome cross platform play.

[jadenkorri]

MS argues people pay for features that psn don't have...so whats the big deal.. according to MS psn has less features and its why its free, i would love to play cod4 with 360 players, and i think a dev got to think of it that way, i personally would like to see ps3 players play against 360. To do it more successfully, have no identification that they are live or psn user, that way completely avoids fanboys...if the person reveals they have a ps3/360 saying their playing for free or the what not, thats their choice and if they complain about being hassled well its not the devs fault...I think it would bring us all together...but the only prob i would see is that live and psn would have to be linked together in order for psn users to add live users and live users to add psn users...

Also this would show MS and sony working together to make gamers happier...it would be better for the gaming community...if MS and sony did this, i would consider a 360, cause then i could lan at home... And i think the same for 360 owners, they would consider a ps3 to play the games that 360 doen't and can lan with friends at home...

[paul_war]

I just get the impression of everyone in a Sony HQ turning off all the lights & pretending they're not in as a Microsoft guy comes round.

Or vies versa

[PirateThom]

"Hello, is Sony there?"
"..err... Sony isn't here at the moment, can I take a message?"
"Tell them Microsoft called."
"Yeah, no problem."
"It's important."
"OK"
"Thanks, bye."
"Bye".

Later
"Any messages?"
"Errr... someone called."
"Who?"
"Err.. Micro.. something... aahh"
"Did you write it down?"
"I forgot"
"Oooh..."
"I think it was Sun Microsystems... yeah, that sounds right."
"Ok"

[ELite_Ghost]

it would be cool if you could at least play LAN!

[iamtehpwn]

just a feeling.

[Covenant]

Well, maybe they need to learn to talk to each other...imagine the fun of cross-platform pwnage. Sony and MS fanboys could beat the stuffing out of each other as much as they want, without polluting forum space.

And that would be great for other reasons...I would love to be able to play with/against my PS3-owning friends.

[Hellsvacancy]

would b kool 2 kick sum xbox scums arse whilst playin cod4 or perhaps gtaiv, but i guess it was never 2 b

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Playstation fans would have no chance in hell, it would take you five minutes (and actual phone calls) to get messages out to your friends... by that time we will be spawn camping you (((Achievement Unlocked)))

[BUKKAKALYPSE]

jason and crab bubbz for you guys!..i couldn't even imagine how bad that would suck

[thehitman]

MS would look like REAL idiots to do xross platform support. Every1 would question them why are your users paying and the others are not for the same thing. I mean I would. MS should just make it free the day they do that the day I might pick up an elite.

[BUKKAKALYPSE]

you get whay you pay for my friend

[Sayai jin]

Have you ever use XBL.

[poopsack]

aww man, I always hoped for a game to do that.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

no thanks! Who wants to play with a bunch of n00b PS3 fishheads. Probably would be a crappy match, one of them would get an online message and they would have to quit the game just to answer it.

[Alexander_Roy]

somebody who calls himself a crab, calling people "fishheads" he doesnt want to play with.

oh the irony.

[heyheyhey]

that's the joke

he's saying all PS3 owners resemble the crab shown at the Genji presentation

[Xlll]

Actually 360 owners have been playing with and vs PS2 and PS3 owners for sometime now. Its called Final Fantasy XI look it up.

[gambare]

not a good idea, there will be a lot of hate between those who pay to play and those who play for free

[smokeymicpot]

If they would of some how did this then it would been one of the greatest things. Casue most likely every game would of done it

[Bladestar]

Not possible because it would be a problem... how would game invites work? Microsoft already have a system and network in place for these kind of things.. .not to mention that I will not be able to block speak or playing with some xbox 360 haters that I would get across...
Just not possible... that would mean the PS3 would have to have access to xbox live user databases... and initiate game sessions... uhh not possible since both systems are very different.

[Xakep]

Didn't PC and PS2 users have access to Live users when FFXI was introduced to the 360? It's software, it can be done, will it is another story.

[lodossrage]

Yup, FF 11 did indeed connect EVERYONE no matter what platform they used for the game. So yeah, it CAN be done.

My personal opinion, MS won't allow it. When you consider how harsh they are on epic in regard to the mods, you can almost be sure that MS are the ones being stuffy about cross platform gaming.

It was different with FF11 because first of all, FF11 was already out for two years before it came to the 360. Secondly, the ps2 wasn't in direct competition with the 360. The ps3 however IS.

Besides, are you a developer Bladestar? Who are you to say "it's not possible"? Ubisoft obviously think it is possible. And since it has already been done with FF11, it IS possible.

[Salvadore]

I can imagine fanboys yelling profanities at each other rather than actually playing.

[jadenkorri]

and get them banned, on both consoles...and we play happily ever after...

[Gun_Senshi]

Cross platform is possible. Square Enix did it with an MMO.

[LostChild]

Isn't Final Fantasy X1 cross platform play between PC, 360, PS3 and PS2 or I am missing something?

[Xakep]

You are correct sir, Phantasy Star Universe was almost the same way but they gave 360 people their own servers afaik.

[DeadlyFire]

Indeed it is cross platform, but Ubisoft are just making excuses. They know its possible they say its not because they don't want to do it. They have never been very good fans of working hard. A few small areas of Ubisoft do work hard though not all of them though.

[heyheyhey]

good, don't want to play with a bunch of whiny 12 year olds who couldn't afford a PS3 anyways

i'd probably just get called a noob for saying "Hi, how are you"

and god forbid i say or do ANYTHING that DOESN'T discriminate homosexual people

[B3RS3RK3RGANG]

Of course it is impossible because XBOX lacks power.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

First off Sony would actualy have to get some sort of online gaming network, (with gamers) for this to work. Or :) at least get some of those updates after they launch, you guys get your patches before your games.

[livespawn]

just imagine the amount of trash talk between consoles, would be fanboy heaven

[kwicksandz]

On the CrashFM podcast they answered an email about this once. they said it was very possible but i think MS doesnt allow it.

[ELite_Ghost]

the ps3 ppl would pwn 360 ppl!