Sony Faces Growing Fortnite Backlash At E3

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Sony faces increasing Fortnite backlash at the E3 by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

Published

14 June 2018

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Sony chiefs are under pressure by Fortnite players to address complaints about "crossplay" limitations.

Gamers were able to use the same Fortnite account if they have previously played the game on a PlayStation.

This stops them from being allowed to use clothing and other items purchased in-game and rewards they had accrued.

There is no such limitation when moving between the Xbox One and Switch.

Gamers were already unable to share a Fortnite account between Microsoft and Sony's platforms.

The Switch's ability to be portable draws in a lot of people who have bought it as a second gaming device.

Sony has yet to confirm it is the one responsible for the restriction but it has issued the following statement to the BBC.

"We're always open to hearing what the PlayStation community is interested in to enhance their gaming experience," it said.

"With... more than 80 million active monthly users on PlayStation Network, we've built a huge community of gamers that can play together on Fortnite and all other online games.

"We also offer Fortnite cross-play compatibility for PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices, thereby increasing the opportunities for Fortnite fans on PS4 to play alongside more players on other platforms."

"We have nothing to add to this at this moment," a spokeswoman added.

Both Microsoft and Fortnite publisher Epic Games have previously indicated that Epic Games Japanese company has decided to prevent PlayStation gamers from competing with other console owners in the title's multiplayer fight-to-the-death Battle Royale mode.

Global hit

Sony has come under fire for blocking cross-play in other titles in the past, including Minecraft and Rocket League.

Fortnite's huge success suggests that the backlash could be even more devastating.

Epic announced this week that the title has 125 million players around the world.

And Nintendo has announced that its free-to-play version was downloaded more than 2 million times in just 24 hours following its release on the Nintendo Switch on Tuesday.

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Sony's public relations efforts at the E3 video game event in Los Angeles are already under threat due to the increasing number of complaints.

Each time it posts news about its latest releases on Twitter and Facebook the public has demanded that it let them share Fortnite logins and permit cross-play.

@PlayStation is holding my Fortnite account hostage for refusing to let me play with other players. It's a bit depressing that I can't connect to a third party account on the Switch because it's tied to PS4. Pathetic @Sony, pathetic. #BlameSony pic.twitter.com/OfRG55meXr

- PKMN Maestro Jerry (@PKMN_Maestro) June 12, 2018

What could @Sony PS's motto be 'For players' if they are unable to cross-compatibility with all on the planet? #PlayStationE3 #fortniteswitch

- Max Hart (@M_H7) June 12, 2018

These are the answers to all your questions regarding unlocking Fortnite accounts.

Good. https://t.co/eiFbAbclSE

- Jim Sterling (@JimSterling) June 13, 2018

@Sony seems to block the cross-play between PS4 and Nintendo Switch, so I'm switching to Xbox One for my non-Switch platform. This allows me to play with my children and play with them together. Anyone who is able to do this, I strongly recommend it.

- Erik Kain (@erikkain) June 12, 2018

The PlayStation 4 is the strongest selling console in the current generation by a huge margin, but one industry expert said this doesn't mean it is immune to attack.

"Sony has got to be very careful about how it handles the situation," Samantha Loveridge, the associate editor of GamesRadar+ told the BBC.

"Fortnite is massive and it's only going grow - it's already getting ready to launch on Android and iOS, so Sony must begin thinking about its closed-garden ecosystem.

"One way or another gamers should be provided with an explanation for why this compatibility issue exists."

Sony allows compatibility with PC and iOS versions of the game, which suggests that the Xbox/Switch block it is a strategic choice rather than a technical impossibility.

While gamers await comment from the PlayStation firm, its competitors have increased the pressure.

Nintendo North America chief Reggie Fils Aime said that the choice of competitors was up to them. We believe being both developer-forward and fan-forward is in the best interest of the game."
Fake it till you make it

And one of Microsoft's gaming executives as well as one of its corporate accounts have tweeted about the issue.

It's great to see cross-play and progress between Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. A lot of people own a Switch. We are looking forward to seeing you at the! https://t.co/mMRXj2GA10

- Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) June 12, 2018

@NintendoUK Do you want to play Fortnite later?

- Xbox UK (@xboxuk) June 12, 2018

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View the original tweet on Twitter

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