Cross-play: what it is and which games let you play across platforms
Cross-play (or "cross-platform play") is the ability for players on different platforms — PC, console, mobile — to play together, in the same match, without needing the same type of device.
Why it took so long to become standard
For years, console makers treated cross-play as a delicate matter: each platform had its own account system, and there was concern that PC players (with mouse and keyboard) would have an unfair advantage over console or mobile players (with a controller or touch). The shift gained momentum around 2018, when Fortnite pushed the market forward by allowing cross-play across practically all platforms.
How it works in the network's games
- Fortnite: full cross-play between PC, PlayStation, Xbox, mobile, and cloud — your Epic Games account is the same everywhere
- Roblox: since it's a platform (not a single game), cross-play depends on each specific experience, but your account and inventory are the same on any device
- Free Fire: supports play across different Android brands and iOS, but has no official cross-play with PC outside of emulators
Cross-play vs. cross-progression
It's worth telling apart two similar terms: cross-play is playing TOGETHER with someone on another platform; cross-progression is keeping your progress (level, items, skins) when switching platforms, even if you're playing alone. Fortnite and Roblox offer both; not every game with cross-play has full cross-progression.
Before playing with a friend on another platform, it's worth checking the game's settings to see if cross-play is enabled — in some games it comes turned off by default.