Cross-Play: The Next Big Thing—But Not So Fast for Borderlands 3
The buzz surrounding cross-play has been huge in the gaming world, and Borderlands 3 jumped right into the conversation early on. Back in 2019, 2K Games made it clear—they wanted to break down the walls between gamers, letting friends play together no matter if they were on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. Sounds simple, right? Not so much when you start looking under the hood.
While the demand was obvious—nobody likes being left out of raids or loot drops just because they're on a different system—the reality was much messier. 2K had to negotiate with the big names behind the consoles: Microsoft and Sony. That meant tackling everything from technical differences to business politics. Sure, Microsoft was warming up to the idea, but Sony? Not so much. At the time, Sony kept a tight grip on its player base, worried about everything from safety to lost revenue. These were not small roadblocks.
Behind the scenes, there were constant conversations. How do you sync up different networks? Who handles support if something goes wrong? And—maybe the toughest—how do you slice up the money when players spend cash on different versions? These questions kept the lawyers and tech teams at 2K busy well after the game launched. That’s why, even after cross-play was on everyone’s wish list, it stayed stuck on the back burner for a while.
Getting Cross-Play Done—But Leaving PlayStation Players Waiting
It took until 2021 before 2K finally rolled out the first version of cross-play for Borderlands 3. But there was a catch: PlayStation users were left sitting out while Xbox, PC, and Stadia gamers got to party together. The reason? Ongoing talks with Sony. While the company has since loosened its stance on cross-play, back then Sony wanted strict agreements about how it all worked, especially when their players mingled with others. For Borderlands fans, it was a letdown and a reminder that cool tech often comes second to business decisions.
So where does this leave the push towards cross-platform gaming? 2K’s efforts with Borderlands 3 show how game studios are changing the way they think—not just about making big, splashy games, but about building active, connected communities. Even if it means slow progress and a lot of headaches dealing with platform giants, more publishers look ready to fight for a future where you can play with your friends, no matter whose gear you buy. The story of Borderlands 3’s cross-play journey is proof that progress is possible, but it comes with plenty of bumps along the way.
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