--- description: Microsoft will support "cross-network play," allowing Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers to duke it out with players on different systems. title: Microsoft Is Fixing a Major Problem With Video Games image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt67c9901b4b412082/69885dd1196cf49545037651/gettyimages-4563076741.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Microsoft Is Fixing a Major Problem With Video Games  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 15, 2016 1:06 PM CUT  A control of a Microsoft's Xbox One game console is pictured in a shop in Shanghai on September 29, 2014. A control of a Microsoft's Xbox One game console is pictured in a shop in Shanghai on September 29, 2014.Johannes Eisele—AFP/Getty Images  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 15, 2016 1:06 PM CUT Video game fans have long been divided into factions. First, there’s the PC gamers and the console gamers. The latter group divides further still splitting between Xbox owners, PlayStation 4 jockeys and Wii U fans. In most cases, these different clans can’t compete against one another — even in the same game. That’s a real headache for friends and family who own different consoles. But Microsoft has just taken an early step towards tearing down this wall. The company announced March 14 that it will support “cross-network play,” allowing Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers to duke it out with players on different systems. Individual game developers have to take Microsoft up on this offer. One title, _Rocket League,_ is already set to offer cross-network play between Xbox and PC gamers, the company says. So when will Xbox One owners get to throw down with PlayStation 4 fanatics? That’s up to Sony, which will have to follow Microsoft’s lead to establish a true gaming détente. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4258895/microsoft-xbox-one-playstation-4-cross-network-play/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4258895/microsoft-xbox-one-playstation-4-cross-network-play/"},"headline":"Microsoft Is Fixing a Major Problem With Video Games","datePublished":"2016-03-15T13:06:15.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:49:39.220Z","description":"Xbox owners will be able to play against other groups","url":"https://time.com/4258895/microsoft-xbox-one-playstation-4-cross-network-play/","keywords":["Tech","Video Games","Sony","Microsoft"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt67c9901b4b412082/69885dd1196cf49545037651/gettyimages-4563076741.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alex Fitzpatrick","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt67c9901b4b412082/69885dd1196cf49545037651/gettyimages-4563076741.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"CHINA-US-COMPUTERS-GAMES-INVESTIGATION","caption":"CHINA-US-COMPUTERS-GAMES-INVESTIGATION","creditText":"Johannes Eisele—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4258895/microsoft-xbox-one-playstation-4-cross-network-play/","name":"Microsoft Is Fixing a Major Problem With Video Games"}}]}] ```