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Sony Faces Growing Fortnite Backlash At E3

Sony faces growing Fortnite criticism at E3 by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor



Published



14 June 2018



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Sony executives are under pressure to respond to complaints about "cross-play" limitations imposed on Fortnite.



Gamers discovered that they cannot use the same Fortnite account if they have previously played the title on the PlayStation.



This means they aren't in a position to utilize clothing and other items purchased in-game and rewards they had accrued.



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



Gamers have been unable to share Fortnite accounts between Microsoft and Sony's platforms.



But the appeal of the Switch is that its portable nature allows owners to play while away from home, consequently, many have bought it as a second gaming machine.



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



"We're always interested in hearing what the PlayStation community would like to know about to improve their gaming experience," it said.



"With... more than 80 million monthly active gamers on PlayStation Network, we've built an enormous community of gamers who play together on Fortnite and all other online games.



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



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



Epic Games, publisher of Fortnite and Microsoft both have stated previously that Epic Games had chosen to stop PlayStation gamers from competing against other console owners in Battle Royale's multi-player fight-to-the-death mode.



Global hit



Sony has faced criticism for preventing cross-play in its other titles in the past, including Minecraft and Rocket League.



Fortnite's immense success means that the backlash could be even more devastating.



Epic announced this week that the title has accumulated an impressive 125 million players across the globe.



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



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Sony's public relations efforts during the E3 video game show in Los Angeles are already under threat from the growing number of complaints.



Each time it announces news about its latest releases to Twitter and Facebook users have responded by demanding that it allow them to share Fortnite logins as well as permit cross-play.



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



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



What can @Sony PS's slogan be 'For the players' when they prohibit cross compatibility with all... You're not for the players in any way. #PlayStationE3 #fortniteswitch



- Max Hart (@M_H7) June 12, 2018



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



Good. https://t.co/eiFbAbclSE



-- Jim Sterling (@JimSterling) June 13, 2018



Since @Sony is apparently blocking the cross-play of #Fortnite between PS4 and Nintendo Switch, I will be switching to Xbox One as my non-Switch platform of choice to play together with my children. Anyone who is able to do so , I highly recommend it.



- Erik Kain (@erikkain) June 12, 2018



Although the PlayStation 4 is the most popular console in this generation, an industry watcher claimed that it wasn't immune to attacks.



"Sony must be very careful about how it manages the situation," Samantha Loveridge, associate editor of GamesRadar+ told the BBC.



"Fortnite is massive and is only getting bigger - it's coming to Android - Sony must start thinking about its closed-garden experience.



"One way or the other gamers should be provided with an explanation as to the reason for this compatibility issue."



Sony does allow compatibility with PC and iOS versions of the game, which suggests that the Xbox/Switch block is a tactical decision rather than a technical issue.



While the PlayStation firm is yet to make a statement, gamers are putting on pressure from their competitors.



Nintendo North America chief Reggie Fils Aime said that the decision of the competitors was theirs to make. We believe that being both fan- and developer-oriented is the best choice for the game's interests.



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 the progression between Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. I know a lot of people own a Switch. We're looking to see you at the! https://t.co/mMRXj2GA10



- Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) June 12, 2018



@NintendoUK want to play Fortnite later?
dj w360


- Xbox UK (@xboxuk) June 12, 2018



The BBC is not responsible to the content of external websites. View original tweet on Twitter



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