Game-Changing Update: Epic Games Introduces a Must-Have New Feature

Highlights

The crossplay overlay of Epic Online Services is being expanded to encompass all prominent console platforms. This development enables developers to establish connections between players on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, as well as with Epic Games Store users on PC.

The crossplay overlay streamlines the developer experience with a unified overlay, a solitary friends list, seamless game invites, and integrated social features ensured by trust and safety controls. This expansion signifies Epic's initiative to foster widespread adoption of its technology and attract a greater player base to its platform, potentially being incorporated into upcoming games rather than their existing offerings.

Epic Games is taking a significant step forward with its Epic Online Services crossplay overlay feature, extending its compatibility to not only different PC storefronts but also all major console platforms. This expanded crossplay overlay will enable developers using Epic Online Services to seamlessly connect players on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch with each other as well as Epic Games Store users on PC. The new crossplay functionality is being offered to Epic Online Services users free of charge.

Around one year ago, the first phase of implementing the crossplay overlay through Epic Online Services was launched. This tool allows developers to easily incorporate crossplay into their games by utilizing the social network already utilized by the Epic Games Store. Instead of having to create their own networking platform to connect multiple platforms, Epic Online Services provides a unified system merging both Steam and Epic Games friends into a single list. This allows users to effortlessly message or invite friends to games.

The crossplay functionality of Epic Online Services is undergoing significant expansion. Not only can developers utilize this free service to connect players on Steam and the Epic Games Store, but they can also bring together players on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch. These services encompass support for authentication, social networking, and game functionality. This technology, which is employed in numerous games, including Epic's own, now extends its support to all major consoles.

Epic is highlighting various features to developers as potential implementations with the new service. These features include a uniform overlay that ensures a consistent experience between PC and console users. Additionally, it offers a single friends list that combines friends from different platforms, along with a straightforward process for creating cross-platform Epic Games accounts. Integrated game invites enable players to invite others to games across platforms, incorporating social features and messaging, all while maintaining Epic's trust and safety controls.

The Epic SDK offers developers the flexibility to seamlessly integrate desired services while avoiding unnecessary ones, including crossplay tools. Epic's primary objective is to simplify implementation and provide assistance. It aims to encourage more game developers to utilize its technology and attract a larger player base to its platform.

To clarify, this expansion pertains to the Epic Online Services toolset. Crossplay functionality between PC and consoles has already been successfully incorporated into Epic's major games, such as Fortnite and Fall Guys. Additionally, since its launch, the Epic Games Store has supported crossplay-enabled games. This feature is now available to developers who opt to utilize Epic's preexisting modular games and account services, rather than developing their own. Any potential changes resulting from this would likely be observed in future games, rather than in Epic's existing offerings.