Xbox One cross-play with PC not allowed, says War Thunder dev

Microsoft won't allow cross-play with PC on Xbox One, which is why War Thunder won't be making its way to the console, developer Gaijin Entertainment has said.

"Microsoft is not allowing cross-play completely; which means [War Thunder] cannot be on Xbox One," Gaijin CEO Anton Yudintsev told Gamespot.

Yudintsev said Microsoft refuses to allow cross-play so that it can certify game servers to ensure a "good experience" for all players, but that cross-play is essential for games like War Thunder because the install base of PS4 and Xbox One alone can't supply enough players.

Microsoft has dropped hints that PC and Xbox One cross-play may be on the cards in the future, but has not committed.

The executive also had harsh words for Microsoft, noting that Sony is "much more open" to both indie developers and free-to-play games. He said Microsoft's approval of games comes down to the whims of just one account manager, and that the platform won't take risks on unknown quantities, banking on ready-made successes like Minecraft instead.

All that said,Yudintsev says things are getting better in Redmond.

"[Microsoft] has to change and they will change. The key is that they understand the necessity of change, so they will," he said.

"We'll see. I hope we will be [on Xbox One] some day as well. I have nothing against the platform itself especially because I'm not one of those guys who worries about which is better [Xbox One or PS4]. I don't care. It's just the hardware. At the end of the day it's only about the quality of the game and the gameplay experience."

War Thunder is currently available on PS4 in Europe, but not other territories, and will support cross-play with PC sometime in April.