Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney uncovered a pivotal conflict between Epic and Sony during the ongoing legal battle against Google.
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Sweeney's revelation shed light on the aggressive push for PlayStation cross-play, a move that nearly escalated into legal action. The controversy unfolded as Epic, joined by developers of games like Rocket League and Ark: Survival Evolved, advocated for cross-platform multiplayer access.
Sony resisted until September 2018, complying only after staunch opposition, revealed in Sweeney's court testimony.
Epic's Strong Push for Cross-play
The Verge tells us that the current focus of the Epic vs. Google trial gravitates around this crucial juncture, highlighting the lengths to which Epic was prepared to go in support of cross-play.
Sweeney's testimony detailed a pivotal June 2018 email exchange with Phil Rosenberg, then senior vice president at PlayStation, revealing Epic's determination: "Please inform Kodera-san, and please be clear, that Epic will enable full interoperability between all platforms in Fortnite at a timely point in the future ... we are prepared to pursue this course with all available resources, wherever it leads us, and for however long."
This resolve underscored Epic's commitment, willing to contest Sony's stance through legal means if necessary. However, Sweeney noted a significant shift in the relationship post-cross-play, with collaborations between Sony and Epic, including Sony Music's involvement in Fortnite events and Sony Corporation becoming an Epic shareholder.
More from the Current Trial
During the trial, Sweeney clarified Epic's ownership structure, dispelling notions of Tencent's control: "I came up with the idea of Project Liberty, and when we disclosed to them, they were rather surprised."
Project Liberty, revealed during the Epic vs. Apple trial, marked Epic's initiative to introduce direct payment options into Fortnite, prompting its removal from app stores. Sweeney's admission reinforced his pivotal role in positioning Epic against tech giants like Google and Apple.
While on the stand, Sweeney addressed Fortnite's distribution challenges, acknowledging its subpar performance via the Samsung Galaxy Store compared to Google Play.
He also discussed Epic's profitability strategies, acknowledging differences in V-Bucks pricing on different platforms. Google's line of questioning aimed to highlight Epic's circumvention of policies and profit generation tactics.
Sweeney's testimony offers a peek into the high-stakes clashes within the gaming industry, spotlighting the evolution of cross-play dynamics and Epic's bold stance against tech giants' app store policies.
In Other News
Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has hinted at the potential return of Sam Altman to OpenAI after his departure as CEO.
Altman, who had previously disclosed plans to join a fresh AI research unit at Microsoft, might have the chance to reassess this decision.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
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