Rocket League update adds cross platform gaming between Xbox and Steam

Rocket League just became the first game to support cross-platform multiplayer gaming between Xbox and Steam. For multiplayer titles, the pool of opponents are also a part of the content, along with the game itself. This update opens up a wider range of matchmaking possibilities for Xbox and Steam players.

https://twitter.com/RocketLeague/status/735216521828409344

Cross network play is enabled by default. Users who prefer not to use this feature, can toggle the setting off. In parties, if any one of the rocketeers has opted out of cross network play, then that setting will apply to the entire party. On the Xbox, those using the steam network will appear with a shield icon, instead of the Psyonix icon. The leaderboards now have a platform specific filter, so you can compare scores on a particular network or across all the networks.

Microsoft had announced in March this year that Rocket League was going to be the first title to support cross platform multiplayer between Xbox and Steam. There were PC titles that use Microsoft’s Xbox network for cross platform play, and there have been PlayStation titles that featured cross network play with PC. This is the first time that the Xbox network is directly interfacing and using the network of another distribution platform, Steam.

At the same time, Microsoft had also announced its intentions of potentially opening up cross network play with other consoles . This capability would be up to the developers to use. If Sony is willing to play, then that would open up the possibility of cross-network multiplayer between Steam, Xbox and PlayStation. Rocket League is perfectly positioned to be the first title to support this.