Borderlands 3 is getting crossplay across all consoles and platforms – except it’s also not. An extremely vague Twitter message shared by Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford has gone viral, but it’s hard to parse exactly what the problem is here. He states that an update for the looter shooter has been readied that “includes full crossplay support across all platforms”. However, he continues: “For certification, we have been required by the publisher to remove crossplay support for PlayStation consoles.”
In this instance, 2K Games is the publisher, but it’s unclear why it would request removal of crossplay specifically from PlayStation platforms – especially when there is already a huge list of all PS5 and PS4 crossplay games. Some are pondering if it could have something to do with a contractual clause enforced by Sony that sees it effectively “tax” publishers if there’s disproportionate ratio between PlayStation playtime and in-game purchases made through other storefronts – however, Borderlands 3 doesn’t have microtransactions or virtual currency. It only has DLC packs.
Pitchford will need to clarify here, then – right now, it’s really not clear what the problem is and why 2K Games has excluded crossplay from PlayStation version of the game. We’ll contact the publisher to try and get a little more insight, and we’ll update when we learn more.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 20
It’s a bit odd. I wonder what 2K’s deal is. But then again, the overall lack of crossplay on PlayStation does make you wonder what the issues are behind the scenes.
After B3 and nba2k20, i'm never buying a 2k game again. Is Boarderlands meant to be alternate comedy, because i just don't see it?
I would imagine it's beacuse PS users will have an unfair advantage with the Move controllers.
I found Borderlands 3 boring anyway so no loss for me personally.
After seeing total ps4 and ps5 sales, sony like "we don't need cross play"
@Loftimus Borderlands 3 was ***** when it came to comedy. BL2 on the other was done a lot better.
This is cross play though, isn't it? Not cross save? Just playing with people on other platforms not taking your progress elsewhere? If so the whole microtransaction tax (even if it did have microtransactions) shouldn't apply.
Push square seems to still be the only outlet that understands that contractual clause. I checked this story on a couple other sites and they're all saying the reason is likely because Sony charges royalties to allow games to be cross-play.
With the mention of certification it points to something amiss with the update itself, rather than the aim of adding crossplay.
Most common reason for things failing certification (on the software rather than content side) is the presence of a security problem, either potential leaks of user date or (un)intentional breaches of Sony's policies surrounding crossplay games.
So.... it has Cross Play between PC and Xbox.
If Outriders and Chivalry 2 just did it on both console +PC, not sure what is the issue 2K has now.
If the game was still alive I'd understand the fuss.....
I imagine the blame is purely on Sony for their draconian tactics regarding cross-play.
It's likely, given Gearbox's track record, it didn't pass cert because the feature is buggy or has some kind of issue they did not fix or are unable to fix.
@Loftimus You and everyone else that trudged through that horrible story.
In previous games the silly humor was hit or miss, for sure, but in BL3 it was just....cringe.
@Link41x And a small company like that makes Chilvary has it. 😅
Oh well, major updates are pretty much done. Nothing left to do.
I'm betting other sites are right and it's about the money ,look how long it took EA to put the vault on ps I bet that was over how much money Sony wanted , everyone blaming 2k .... Other consoles have agreed stuff but not Sony hmmmmmm yeh deffo 2ks fault hey
They dropped the ball in almost all directions except gameplay & graphics with this game ; but last generation proved that even gameplay can't , and doesn't , carry a game alone. Borderlands 2 is superior in almost every way .
This is entirely on Sony, not Gearbox nor 2K. Honestly, it's hilarious how people got onto Nintendo for cancelling a Smash tournament and Microsoft for trying to raise the price on Xbox Gold yet Sony essentially charging a fee for crossplay if too many people don't pay extra on their platform when it is active isn't getting similar backlash?
I'm only interested in the offline story mode, so this news doesn't affect me personally.
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