All articles tagged with #cross platform
Three new titles join Xbox Game Pass this week: TCG Card Shop Simulator (Series X|S, PC, Cloud) debuts February 24; Dice A Million (PC) on February 25; and Towerborne 1.0 (Console, PC, Cloud) on February 26, with Towerborne transitioning from free-to-play online to a buy‑once offline experience with co-op.
Anthropic explains Claude Desktop uses Electron because engineers are familiar with web tech, it helps maintain UI parity across web and desktop, and accelerates cross‑platform iteration. The discussion centers on the tradeoffs between development speed and performance, with users and commenters debating whether a native or lighter framework would yield better UX, despite Electron’s broad reach. The thread also touches on Claude Code, GPU/driver considerations, and the ongoing question of whether future work will move toward native implementations or alternative cross‑platform solutions.
Marathon will bring PlayStation-exclusive weapon charms to Steam and Xbox players as well, with Bungie confirming cross‑platform charms in response to community questions; a server-slam test runs Feb 26–Mar 2 ahead of a March 5 launch. The game has faced past hurdles, including PvE criticisms and a plagiarism scandal, but is pushing forward with broader cosmetic content.
Google expands Quick Share to the Pixel 9 lineup, enabling AirDrop-style, internet-free file transfers to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. To receive, either device must enable 'Everyone for 10 Minutes'; transfers are peer-to-peer with device-name verification, and files save to the appropriate apps (Photos for photos, Files for documents).
Google has expanded AirDrop-style compatibility to the Pixel 9 series (except the 9A), allowing Pixel-to-Apple transfers to appear as AirDrop on iPhone, Mac, and iPad while Android uses Quick Share; the receiving Apple device must be discoverable (up to 10 minutes) and the Pixel must be discoverable or in receive mode for transfers.
Apple is testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in the iOS 26.4 developer beta, but the encryption tests are currently limited to Apple devices and won’t be shipped in this beta; cross‑platform (iPhone‑to‑Android) encrypted RCS messaging is planned for a future update.
Google plans to broaden Quick Share, Android’s AirDrop-style transfer, to additional Android devices beyond Pixel 10 so they can initiate AirDrop sessions with Apple devices this year. Partners haven’t been named yet, but Google says expect announcements soon, and the company is also working to simplify data transfers for users switching from iOS to Android.
Google confirms Quick Share, its AirDrop-style cross‑platform sharing, will expand beyond Pixel devices to a wider range of Android phones (including Samsung and Nothing). Pixel 9/9 Pro will gain support as part of a platform‑level upgrade, not a workaround, enabling easier sharing with iPhones and Macs. A broader, multi‑OEM rollout with security audits is planned in the coming months, with key tech events likely to showcase the expansion.
Apple’s iOS 26.3 update, expected in early February 2026 after beta testing, emphasizes interoperability and privacy with features like Transfer to Android (co‑developed with Google) that wirelessly move photos, messages, notes, apps, and contacts to a nearby Android device, while excluding some data such as Health, Bluetooth devices, and locked notes; a new Limit Precise Location option for carrier tracking on select iPhone models and networks; EU‑focused proximity pairing for third‑party accessories that mirrors AirPods pairing; and a reworked wallpaper menu with distinct Weather and Astronomy sections. Compatibility spans iPhone models running iOS 26 and newer hardware is required for certain features (e.g., Limit Precise Location needs devices with a C1/C1X modem). Beta testers report better battery life and overall performance, with some bugs still under investigation. Rollout typically includes a release candidate followed by public launch in early February 2026.
Xbox Game Studios chief Craig Duncan says the team wants to reach more players with day-one releases on PS5 and other platforms, but development realities and resource limits mean further consistency will take time. Some games will launch on all platforms at once when feasible, others may debut first on Xbox or PC (Grounded 2 is cited as PC-first), and titles like Fable are expected for day-one PS5 while Forza Horizon 6 isn’t planned for PS5 at launch in 2026. The goal is to be more consistent over time, but decisions will remain case by case.
Season 1 patch for 2XKO launches tomorrow on Xbox Series and PS5, delivering broad balance changes to all 11 fighters (Ahri, Blitzcrank, Braum, Darius, Ekko, Illaoi, Jinx, Teemo, Vi, Warwick, Yasuo), tweaks to projectiles, movement, and assists, plus bug fixes, all while preserving cross-platform progression.
An overview of 2026's top co-op titles across genres—from cozy Pokemon Pokopia and interstellar Orbitals to arcade Awaysis, vampiric The Duskbloods, and horror Reanimal—plus Ikuma: The Frozen Compass, Hold Your King, Scott Pilgrim EX, Hela, and Forza Horizon 6, showcasing drop-in/drop-out multiplayer, cross-platform play, and cross-gen releases on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Microsoft have updated their 2020 pledge to improve player safety across Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. In a joint update, they reiterate a multidisciplinary approach built on three pillars: Prevention (user-friendly safety tools and clear codes of conduct for players and parents), Partnership (collaboration with industry groups, regulators, law enforcement, and researchers), and Responsibility (transparent enforcement, ethical data use, and timely reporting to authorities when needed). The aim is safer, more positive online gaming environments for all players, especially younger users, with ongoing cross‑industry collaboration.
VR game developers say 2025 marks a shift away from new headset launches toward diversifying across Quest, PlayStation, and Steam to reach players, with cross‑platform releases proving beneficial but funding tightening. While some studios report solid holiday sales and ongoing content drops, others like Cloudhead Games have cut staff, and overall investment remains tight as Horizon OS is shelved and reliance on subscription revenue grows, prompting questions about sustainable indie VR growth in the near term.
Microsoft is enhancing its Xbox development tools and ecosystem to support a more PC-like experience, including new APIs, cloud save features, streamlined game packaging, and cross-platform capabilities, all aimed at unifying Xbox and Windows gaming for developers and players alike.