Overwatch is a sensational hit in the genre of shooting-based games. You can be a virtual hero and travel the world and build up your team to conquer objectives. This game is basically 6v6 combat. Hence, players have been demanding cross-platform facilities to connect with other players.
Since popular gaming titles come with crossplay support, Overwatch deserved to get the same. Is Overwatch cross platform now? Well, yes, the developer of Overwatch has finally added the crossplay amenities to the gameplay.
And, this makes the game not to be limited to PCs only. Let’s get to know more about Overwatch’s crossplay support in detail.
What do You mean by Cross Platform Support or Crossplay?
Crossplay means enjoying the game or application on different devices or gaming consoles. Previously, developers kept Overwatch limited to computers. But, Blizzard, the developer of Overwatch, decided to make Overwatch a crossplay.
Therefore, it’s a yes to your query: ‘Is Overwatch cross platform?’. This legendary title is currently available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation users. Now, gamers can participate in the rush of Overwatch through these gaming consoles.
So, Overwatch has joined the crossplay platform, just like Apex Legends, PUBG, Fortnite, etc. It permits you to invite your friends or teammates to join Overwatch irrespective of their platform.
For example, if you are on a computer and your friend uses a PS5, there will be no issue. And, you can enjoy the gameplay seamlessly.
Is Overwatch Cross Platform?
Gamers have been requesting the crossplay feature for Overwatch for years. However, the developer realised players’ requests in June 2021. Earlier, the game director of Overwatch, Jeff Kaplan, said that Blizzard was in the middle of a discussion with Microsoft and Sony.
The agenda was to merge the servers so that players could have a crossplay. And, it finally came out in 2021. The developer released a global Battle.net update and took the gaming world by storm. Well, a Battle.net account is mandatory to enable crossplay when you use a gaming console.
Players having a gaming console, must register their gaming consoles through the Battle.net account. Unless they are not eligible to join the gameplay.
Is Overwatch cross platform? Yes, only if you remember to create a Battle.net account and register your gaming device.
How to Turn on Overwatch Crossplay?
The crossplay feature is currently active in every playlist in Overwatch. Yet, there is an exception. Crossplay is not available in the competitive mode. Competitive mode allows PC gamers to compete against PC gamers only. The same is true for console gamers. If you are a console gamer, then you can play in competitive mode with console gamers only.
Otherwise, you can activate the crossplay for any other playlist. Players must sign up for a Battle.net account. After creating an account, they need to link the existing console to the account.
Here’s how you have to create an account or log in to an existing Battle.net account:
- Open a web browser on your device and visit the Battle.net address.
- Sign up for Battle.net in case you don’t have an account.
- Otherwise, you need to sign in to the Battle.net account.
- Once you create or sign in to the existing Battle.net account, you have to navigate to the tab called My Account. It should be somewhere in the top-right corner of the page.
Steps to Link your Gaming Console to the Battle.net Account
After you are ready with your Battle.net account, you need to link your gaming console to that account. ‘Is Overwatch cross platform?’- it will be once you link the gaming console to the Battle.net account.
Follow the steps below to enable Overwatch crossplay:
- Power on your gaming console. Then, launch the game Overwatch.
- Look for the QR and alphanumeric code that helps in linking your console to the Battle.net account.
- On your PC or any other device, navigate to Battle.net/pair. Make sure that you are logged into the interface using your Battle.net account.
- You need to type in the alphanumeric code there. If you select the QR code scan option, you need to scan the QR code first. Then, it will take you to a page where you have to enter the alphanumeric code.
Congratulations! You have successfully paired your gaming console to the Battle.net account. Players who had linked their gaming consoles by 2021 received a Golden Loot Box. It was a gift from the developer to make the celebration grand for adding crossplay to Overwatch.
How does Crossplay Work in Overwatch?
As already stated, competitive mode isn’t available for crossplay. Once competitive mode starts, console players and PC players won’t be combined in the same matchmaking pool. Competitive mode is available among either PC players or console players.
On the other hand, PC users have to use a mouse and keyboard to control gameplay in Overwatch. Whereas, it should be a controller for a console. Players who have been using a mouse and keyboard can’t join the matchmaking pool of console players. Here’s another constraint of Overwatch crossplay.
According to developers, it will simply invoke unfair advantages for deploying a mouse and keyboard. That’s why they had banned the use of mouse and keyboard for a matchmaking pool of console players.
Hence, players should have their best skill set on either console controller or mouse and keyboard, but not on both.
Additionally, console players can’t use Aim Assist if they want to prove their worth to PC players. If console players join a matchmaking pool of PC players, then Aim Assist gets disabled by default.
Will there be Crossplay on Overwatch 2?
You already got the answer to the query, ‘Is Overwatch cross platform?’. In addition, you are aware of the method to enable it and the constraints. But, Overwatch crossplay is an interesting subject for gamers. We are pretty sure that Blizzard has its thoughts regarding launching crossplay for Overwatch 2, however, there’s no confirmation yet.