Blizzard give update potential of Overwatch cross-platform play

Blizzard have given an update on the potential for cross-platform play for Overwatch following the reveal of the title coming to Nintendo Switch.

It was recently announced that Overwatch will become available for another platform, with Nintendo announcing during its September 4 Nintendo Direct that the game would be coming to the popular Switch console.

With yet another way to play Overwatch on its way, the question on many fans’ minds is whether or not players on different platforms will ever be able to play with and against each other.

Cross-platform play certainly isn’t unheard of for major titles, with the likes of Fortnite including the feature, so it’s definitely a possibility that Overwatch could follow suit at some point in the future.

In the wake of the announcement, Blizzard Communications Manager Nazih Fares addressed the possibility of the feature coming with the Switch release, stating that while it’s not something they’ll be offering immediately, Blizzard are considering the possibility for the future.

“We’ve seen how compelling cross-system play can be for our community, and we’re excited about the potential.

“There’s still a lot of work to do on both our side and the platform’s side to determine whether this is something that makes sense for Overwatch, and we’re keeping an eye on how cross-play systems and technology develop.”

• Read more: Overwatch officially announced for Nintendo Switch

Unfortunately, Fares gave no timeline for when fans might expect a more concrete update, but while it’s possible that cross-play may never come to Overwatch, it’s certainly encouraging to see Blizzard publicly confirm they’re considering it.

If Blizzard were actively working on the feature, the soonest fans could likely expect an announcement would be BlizzCon, the annual convention at which the developers reveal major upcoming content and releases for their titles. BlizzCon is due to take place on November 1-3.

The lack of cross-play also means that veteran players wishing to try out the game on Switch will also have to start from scratch with their accounts on the console – there’s no way to access your cosmetics or player history across separate platforms.

Overwatch will be released for Nintendo Switch on October 15.