Essentially, Cross Play, known by various names like Cross platform play, crossplay, cross-play, is a feature allowing players to connect across different platforms, experiencing multiplayer modes as if on a regular server.
What is Cross Play?
Cross Play or Cross platform play isn't a novel concept for mobile users or frequent online gamers on PC. Cross Play enables players on PC, PS4, and Xbox One to connect via a virtual server, engaging in multiplayer modes on the same online server.
How does Cross platform play work?
Playing games through Cross Play feature on servers isn't simple as it depends on agreements among developers. To make this happen, developers need approval from all hosting companies across various platforms for the game applying Cross platform play.
Due to such challenges, most games with Cross platform play features in today's market are applied to mobile games (less stringent conditions compared to consoles). For example, Fortnite Battle Royale allows players on PC, PS4, Android, and iOS to experience gameplay together on one server. Or PUBG is also about to implement Cross Play connectivity between Xbox One and PS4.
A prime example of implementing Cross Play is Minecraft, a game with a massive player base spread across different platforms, from Android and iOS mobile systems to consoles. Players can connect and experience the game on a shared server, a unified platform.
In general, Cross Play among different operating systems can be easily activated through standard communication protocols and only requires the game to switch to a compatible mode with other systems, making computer platforms highly accessible for this reason. Although online technical services on computers have become popular since 2010, this system often remains open to provide developers with tools to utilize cross-platform gaming.
It can be concluded that the Cross Play or Cross platform play feature has been developed and applied in practice long before, allowing you to play mobile games with those on Xbox, Xbox with PC, PC with Mobile, or vice versa. It's that simple.