Microsoft Discussing With Sony to Bring the Better Together Minecraft Update to the PS4 - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 05 August 2017 / 11,381 Views
Microsoft is in discussions with Sony to bring the Better Together Minecraft update to the PlayStation 4 version. The update will add cross-platform play to the console.
"While we are thrilled to be able to confirm the new version of Minecraft is coming to Nintendo Switch, we are still in discussions with Sony about PlayStation and have nothing to confirm," said Microsoft in a FAQ. "We would love to work with Sony to bring players on PlayStation 4 into this ecosystem as well."
Currently, Microsoft has confirmed the update is coming to the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10 Edition, mobile, and VR this fall.
"The Better Together Update will release for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile, VR and Windows 10 devices this fall," said Microsoft. "As long as players own the current Minecraft console edition at the time of the Better Together Update’s release, they will receive the new version of the game for free."
"The old console edition will not be available for new purchase after the full release of Minecraft on Xbox One and Switch. Existing owners will still be able to access and play the old console version and minigames, but those versions will not receive updates after the official release of Minecraft."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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This is all PR. They knew Sony wouldn't go along which creates the illusion that Sony is the bad guys. They're pulling a page straight out of Sony's book (E3 used games etc.). Smart business move... but transparent as well.
Yet they still have a point. And last gen, the roles were reversed.
Won't happen as long as an XBOX live account is needed.
The servers should be viewable from the MC server list to begin with. If you already logged in on your PSN. And can view the server browser. Why can't the MS servers be visible. You don't log into your account. After you already started the browser. That step is done. And basically simulates you already did on the MS server side.
"....into this ecosystem as well..."
Into YOUR ecosystem you mean...target is probably using PS4 players as "numbers of XBox Live users" in their usual polls.
Just get rid of the mandatory Live login and I'm sure Sony won't have a problem.
Why would that be something Sony would be against? It wouldn't affect the PS4 players from what I can see anyways.
Of course needing one more account (or having to log into one more account if you already have an XBL account) would affect PS4 players!
Or MS can just remove there franchise which they rightfully own. If you want to sell your opposition games than Sony need to harden up. Nintendo did.
You know why MS can't ditch Minecraft for PS4?! Because they make more money on PS4 than on X1 ironically.
It would affect PS4 owners in a way they'd be registered for Microsoft promotion but more importantly it would benefit MS much more than Sony since Sony has a huuuge advantage in online play atm if you're looking at the worldwide market. Why would Sony want to artificially inflate their Live user numbers and deliver online gamers to the struggling XBox brand in Europe and Asia?!
@Azzanation: Like Error said, Microsoft makes more Minecraft money on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.
I really hope Sony is able to see past their pride and allow cross platform play. Had the tables been turned and Microsoft was the one selling more systems this gen, I know they'd be doing the same, but man, this can only benefit gamers.
Honestly on the machine selling like the ps4 it's not exactly like the gamers there are suffering from a lack of people to play against lol.
At what point does it become just pointless to add the additional players in, it's 6:1 now in favour of the PS4, should Sony allow cross play with the Ouya version of Towerfall as well as it would only benefit gamers letting more play together?
insane to allow an untrusted piece of hardware which is sold from the start as something which is modable to connect into the psn infrastructure. Instantly you should have considered the security risks this could bring Sony to allow such a thing... Sony spend time and cash ensuring they don't have a repeat of what happened to their servers a few years ago.
They harden their OS each passing month with patches and updates... why not allow another system to connect into that network? because you have no control over their security practices and what is known publicly about them is that they allow users to hack the console from the get go.
That's the first good point (aside from Sony not benefiting from cross-platform MP) about the situation I think I've seen yet. I suppose it does make sense to limit the platforms, although at the same time it's hypocritical since there are already cross-platform titles with PC, which ought to be the biggest possible security risk since you can do absolutely anything on PC. I think it shows Sony isn't too worried about the security issues related to cross-platform multiplayer. In practice, shoddy PS4 games ought to be the bigger security risk anyway since they interact directly with the PS4.
"this stubborn behavior"
You mean that consoles are and have been closed platforms effectively since their conception? That Sony are keeping that the status quo and not changing things isn't a huge deal, it's the norm, when companies want to do things which aren't the norm they are the ones who need to win over people, not the other way around.
If you can't think of a reason why Sony are telling them to go away from a united front in terms of online connectivity google "embrace extend and extinguish" for yourself and do some reading on Microsoft reaching out to their competition.
I'm off to blow some more smoke somewhere else lol.
@Ganon
Cross platform isnt just about increasing the life span of a game. Its also about playing with your friends and family who dont own the exact same console as you. Eg, i can now play with my brother from PC to his Switch. Since he will never own anything but a Nintendo system. This method benefits us both. Cross play is such a great thing for everyone. Sony needs to get there head out of there arses and start showing they care instead of trying to destroy there competition they should work together as a whole because we need all platforms to succeed. I Dont understand why gamers defend these actions when it does nothing but benefit the customer.
@Gannon - Perhaps not the Ouya system, haha. But I feel that both Microsoft and Sony both have similar interests in protecting their networks from any kind of malicious intent and continue to fortify respective networks. My thinking was that the two working together to allow gamers to play with one another isn't quite like opening the networks wide and letting anyone at them.
I want more exclusive games on my console system and better games on my console system. I do not care about companies working together to produce multi-platform titles.
why would anyone give a shit whether the game you are playing is exclusive to the console you are playing. wanting more games on your console is fine but why the fuck would anyone really care whether they are exclusive or not, never understood that mentality or not wanting others to play the game you have.
Exclusives generate interest and justification for specific consoles, which in turn increases the population/revenue of the console. This would allow for higher quality exclusives, which repeats the cycle. It's actually a pretty major aspect of how the console industry works, and what you're seeing right now with Xbox One is what happens to a high profile platform when it loses exclusive content.
You know what'd be great, if they spent some time worrying about getting games on their own system, honestly, trying to make news about bringing an update to an existing game on the ps4 doesn't alter the fact that their own machine is in dire need of some attention, why not go into talks with Nadella and ask him for some $ to spend on a AAA exclusive for the console to get it to sell.
That one gsme youe referring to iz bigger than everything on PS and Xbox. How about let there devs make the games and the other side of there gaming devision handle the rest ;)
My eyes!!!
That one "gsme youe" referring to is also already on both consoles, with the thing at stake being cross platform play. I would prefer Microsoft put more stock in getting some quality exclusives so that I feel like I need an Xbox One.
Azz This one game is not only far from the biggest franchise but it's also selling better on PS4 obviously. There are way more players on European and Asian servers on PS4 than on X1, which imho initially is MS's intention why they even try to push cross play all of a sudden, after denying it for a decade.
