Borderlands 3 looks set to bring a lot of features when it launches in September. The game will feature local split-screen co-op, for example; a true rarity these days, although the feature will only be available on consoles. It will also allows players to turn individually instanced loot on and off. However, one feature which Gearbox has shied away from discussing directly is the possibility of Borderlands 3 crossplay. Until now, that is.
Gearbox is Looking “Closely” at the Possibility of Borderlands 3 Crossplay
While crossplay is a very popular feature among gamers, the feature has often been stymied by companies like Sony. After all, allowing crossplay would allow players who don’t own PlayStations to play with their friends who do, potentially disincentivising PlayStation console sales. However, pressure from developers and fans has led to Sony gradually softening their anti-crossplay stance of late.
The possibility of Borderlands 3 crossplay entered discussions surrounding the game recently due to a listing in the Microsoft Store. The listing apparently named crossplay as a feature, although it was swiftly edited to omit the entry. After the entry was spotted by keen-eyed fans, GameSpot approached Gearbox for a statement; “Cross-play is something we’re looking at closely,” says Gearbox; “but we don’t have anything to confirm or announce at this time.”
Previously, some developers have said that the process to enable cross-play is relatively simple. However, the main obstacle is apparently refusals to allow it from companies like Sony. As such, it may be that Gearbox is currently in negotiations to get permission for Borderlands 3 crossplay. Of course, at this stage nobody knows for sure whether the feature will be included at launch. There may also be other hurdles to implementing crossplay which need to be addressed by developers. For now, fans can only hope that Gearbox is able to get Borderlands 3 crossplay into the game.