Sony hit with huge backlash after Fortnite release on Switch
Sony is facing huge backlash over the way it has dealt with the release of Fortnite on the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo announced this week that the hugely popular battle royale game would arrive on the Switch, leading to excitement above fans. That enthusiasm was increased when it became clear that cross-platform play would be allowed, letting Switch players take on their friends on other consoles.
But there is now considerable backlash after PlayStation users found that can't play on both the Switch and Sony's console. If they have already played on the PS4, for instance, then they cannot log onto their Fortnite account on the Switch.
That means that players will have to buy all of their add-ons all over again if they want to play on the Switch too. Fortnite's in-game purchases can add up to considerable amounts of money, despite the fact that the game is initially free.
Many players have the Switch as a second console, since it is portable and so can be used in addition to the PlayStation or Xbox. The Switch release is the first time that Fortnite can be played on the move with full controls – likely meaning that a number of players will download it so that they can take their console games with them.
Sony has recognised the problem but has not suggested that any change will be coming.
The same restrictions do not apply on the Xbox. There, players can easily switch between consoles and keep everything they've gained.
Sony shares have plunged in the wake of the controversy, though it is not clear the two problems are related.
A statement from the company pointed out that the PlayStation does support cross-platform play – but made no suggestion that a fix would be coming.
"We're always open to hearing what the PlayStation community is interested in to enhance their gaming experience," a statement given to the BBC said.
"With... more than 80 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network, we've built a huge community of gamers who can play together on Fortnite and all online titles.
"We also offer Fortnite cross-play support with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, expanding the opportunity for Fortnite fans on PS4 to play with even more gamers on other platforms."
