Gimme Gimme Games reported today that Nintendo will be allowing cross-platform play to the WiiU. The info released during an interview with Pure Chess and Knytt Underground developer, Ripstone.
We’re launching Pure Chess and Knytt Underground later this year, and on Pure Chess we asked whether we could do cross-platform multiplayer, expecting it to be the typical closed console platform I’ve been used to working with for 20 years. Within a couple of days they said, “yep, no problem. You can have other console players playing against Wii U players. You can have smartphone player’s play against them. No problem.”
This relaxed attitude from Nintendo could redefine gaming as we know it. Many of the hard-core (me included) have wanted the ability to cross-platform game only to be shut out by console manufacturers and developers alike. Mobile integration into games is coming, but as of right now it’s only happening within individual titles (the Battlefield App enhancing Battlefield, etc.) The key will be playing chess on my Galaxy S4 against someone on their Wii U at home. If the other manufacturers got on board, or were forced on board through consumer need, we could finally see PC vs. Xbox One, PS4 vs. Wii U, dogs and cats, living together, mass hysteria! The competitive environment for online gaming would grow exponentially, and satisfaction would increase.
Although Nintendo’s head is in the right place I don’t think this will change very quickly, definitely not in this generation, but it would be nice wouldn’t it?