Video game publisher Electronic Arts has a new patent that relates to cross-platform play. More specifically, it details the way a player will have the platform they are playing a game on displayed to others while being in a shared social space.
A number of games, like Fortnite, currently support cross-platform play across PC and console. But for the cooperative bits of the game, you may want to know which platform your allies are playing on. And that’s where the implementation of this patent comes in. For example, if you’re playing on PC and you get a partner that’s playing on an Xbox.
Having this knowledge may make you more inclined to understand the challenges they may face with certain actions. Or, if you get to see this before you get teamed, up, you may be inclined to choose someone else to partner with to begin with.
But on another side of the patent, it also describes the way a game will give different in-game options to players depending on their platform. This may range from displaying different content items, different level suggestions, or even roles for a party.
As a whole, the patent has both a promising, and a disheartening side. The fact that players get to see each other’s gaming platform can both work for and against them. The personalised content being presented based on platform could also go both ways.
