No, this isn’t a drill. This Sony Fortnite Crossplay PS4 guide is here and ready to cover all the bases when it comes to enabling Fortnite crossplay, knowing how to play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the cross-play open beta release date and so much more besides that. It’s been months in the making – and it’s all happening very, very soon.
Fortnite Cross-Play PS4 Guide: Sony’s Announcement
PlayStation’s controversial stance on Fortnite PS4 cross-play has made headlines ever since E3 2018. Gamers and other game companies alike have been voicing against what they’re calling an anti-consumer move. It seems that Sony has relented and decided to start supporting cross-platform features for select third-party content.
The historic move was announced via PlayStation Blog by Sony President and Global CEO John Kodera earlier today. The Fortnite PS4 cross-play beta will finally allow players on the console to play with players on other platforms like the Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS.
In the original post, Kodera stated that Sony and PlayStation have now recognized the fact that cross-platform experiences add “significant value” to players. He also mentioned that this move to support cross-play represents a “major policy change” for Sony Interactive Entertainment. More details will be shared in the near future, including the specific timeframe for the Fortnite PS4 cross-play beta, as well as what this move would affect other titles.
This news spells good news for all gamers and the games industry as a whole. It was only a few months ago that Sony reassured gamers that it was actively looking at the possibilities of cross-play for the PS4. It looks like future predicted by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is closer than ever to becoming a reality. Earlier this year, Sweeney stated that the future of the games industry will be “one in which barriers between platforms will no longer exist,” and that Fortnite will be one of the games that will help establish that new status quo.
How to Enable Sony Fortnite Crossplay PS4 – How to Join Cross-Play Beta
This one is nice and simple. Fire up Fortnite and make sure it has been updated the latest version on PS4 and, from September 26, Epic (and Sony) will allow players to ‘join’ the beta simply by playing the game. There is no need to sign up anywhere, nor pre-order or buy anything.
If you want to partake in the crossplay beta with other players, you’re going to have to launch the Party Finder through your console, which will then allow you to find and chat with friends through their Epic accounts.
Fortnite Crossplay PS4 Guide: How to Play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
While no details have been officially announced, it is expected that you’ll be able to crossplay on PS4 in much the same way as you can on any platform.
The key is your Epic account. Link your PS4 account up to your Epic account. This is vital, and will let you crossplay on PS4. You can add others’ Epic accounts to your friends list, which will allow you to play with them on any console from September 26. That also includes iOS, Android, and PC.
The open beta will also allow Fortnite PS4 players to keep their progression, V-Bucks, and cosmetic items when logging into the battle royale game on other platforms.
Fortnite Crossplay Release Date – When Will PS4 Cross-Platform Play Launch?
The first step towards that goal is a Fortnite PS4 cross-play beta, which begins today on September 26, 2018. You can expect a launch tonight, with the possibility of it going live as soon as 10:00 a.m. Pacific/1:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m. BST, though nothing has been confirmed.
Fortnite PS4 Crossplay History – Why Did Sony Enable Cross Platform Play?
The decision by Sony to enable Fortnite cross platform play is a long time coming. Players on the console have requested that they should be able to play alongside PS4 and Nintendo Switch owners for months, though it has taken until now for cross-play to be enabled. So what gives?
Sony’s refusal to allow cross-play has not been without controversy. Earlier this month, CEO Kenichiro Yoshida claimed that the PS4 offered the best Fortnite experience.
“On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play,” he said. “Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief.”
However, with Microsoft and Nintendo both rubbing salt into the wound by teaming up for Minecraft cross-play, Sony was left out to dry. Despite being the runaway leader in console sales, public perception was shifting against the company, with it seemingly forcing its hand.
Fortnite Controversies
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Fortnite Controversies: Ninja Uses the 'N Word'
Fresh off of his stream with Drake, Ninja appeared on a live stream and used the "n-word" while rapping. After being called out, Ninja apologized and said: "There was no mal intent (I wasn’t even trying to say the word-I fumbled lyrics and got tongue tied in the worst possible way)." Read more. -
It's Banned in Schools
Fortnite has been banned in schools, with the mobile version of the game causing kids to pay more attention to Battle Royale than their studies. However, clever schoolchildren found a way around this, developing their own primitive versions of the game using the web-based platform Scratch. Read more. -
Sony Doesn't Want Fortnite Cross-Play
Sony doesn't want PS4 owners to be able to play with those on Xbox One and PC, with Fortnite continuing to be a prime example of this. Not only can owners of both consoles hop into a game with one another, but Sony has also blocked V-Bucks from being shared across platforms. Read more. -
Drake Plays Fortnite
Celebrity involvement in video games is always controversial, though Drake and Ninja's joint stream on Twitch was mostly praised for introducing a wider audience to the game. Ninja would later find himself embroiled in controversy, but this was a cool moment while it lasted. Read more. -
PUBG Devs Hate It
PUBG dev Bluehole isn't a fan of Fortnite, with the studio previously criticizing the battle royale game for being too derivative. This led to the (false) rumor circulating that Fortnite is shutting down as a result of a lawsuit from PUBG's creators. Read more. -
Tilted Towers Needs a Replacement
Tilted Towers has become such a popular landing location that players have grown to hate it. This has led to multiple fake locations being drawn up by hoaxers, though Epic has yet to officially announce a replacement for the area. Read more. -
Fortnite Becomes the Biggest Game on Twitch
League of Legends had dominated Twitch for years, though Fortnite knocked the game off its pedestal back in March, becoming the most-viewed game on the site. Its popularity shows no signs of declining. Read more. -
Free V-Bucks! (But Not Really)
V-Bucks are Fortnite's in-game currency, used to buy cosmetic items and passes that unlock the game's challenges. With Fortnite being so popular, many sources claim to offer these for free, with them more often than not proven to be scams. Many have fallen for these scams, and they continue to be a problem in the game's community. Read more. -
It Only Took Two Months to Make
Fortnite is one of the biggest games in the world, though its battle royale mode was something of a last-ditch effort to revitalize the base game. This is evidenced by the fact that it only took two months to make. Read more.
