Cross-platform games development is a very lucrative industry. This fast-evolving industry can trace its beginnings to the early 2000s. However, just a few years ago, discussing cross-platform games (cross-play) sounded like a dream or a crazy idea to most people even though the feature had been around for quite a number of years.
Cross-platform games and gaming originally existed between PCs the reason being that only this type of equipment had enough capabilities to communicate openly between systems. However, things began to change when the seventh generation consoles were introduced into the market paving the way for manufacturers and other take companies to create more consoles that are internet-ready.
Cross-platform play has been popularized by games like Fortnite and Minecraft, which led major brands, such as EA, Nintendo, and Sony to venture in this category as they saw how profitable it is. The game development scene is rapidly evolving. For instance, you can now find games made by leading brands that can be played across different platforms.
So why should you venture into cross platform games development? Below are some compelling reasons why you should do so.
Developing cross-platform games has numerous benefits and advantages. Some of its advantages include:
It is Financially Efficient
Developing a using a cross platform engine allows you to save on costs. On top of allowing you to cover all the platforms in just a single development cycle and introduce it into the market, cross-platform development also greatly reduces the costs you may have to incur when you expand into a new market and audience in the future.
It Reduces Maintenance Costs
The ability for all platforms to share network information, therefore, allowing players to move from one system to another with the same game is the main reason why cross-playing is rapidly growing in popularity. However, cross-play currently only works with computer since they allow specific elements to remain isolated across different systems/platforms.
Grow your Audience
A cross-platform game can stay consistent between different markets. For this reason, it facilitates a cross-platform socializing and multiplayer experience, helps you better manage your player base, and increases your audience reach.
Simplified Leaderboards and Matchmaking
Things like matchmaking and leaders in multiplayer cross-play games are much simpler. This is because such games have a larger player pool and centralized data handling.
More Effective Marketing Campaigns
With conventional games, marketing campaigns are competitive because they need to consider different platform players. But with cross-platform ones, the campaigns can be more centralized, therefore, only catering to a single audience.
