The main problems of cross-platform compatibility in mobile games

The world of gaming platforms has become incredibly diverse today. Whether you own a PC, Xbox One, PlayStation, or Nintendo, the options are plentiful. In recent times, several projects have been released simultaneously on PC, Android OS, and iOS, such as PUBG Mobile, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Diablo: Immortal, and other popular franchises. This raises the question: What motivates developers of these multiplayer projects to make their games cross-platform?

What are cross-platform games?

Cross-platform games are exclusively online projects that allow players to engage in gaming sessions simultaneously on devices with different platforms. These games are developed for multiple platforms simultaneously, enabling thousands of PC, smartphone, and tablet users to join gaming sessions and play together.

Cross-platforming has gained immense popularity, offering numerous advantages to both users and developers.

Benefits of cross-platform gaming for users and applications

The advantages of connecting users from different platforms in gaming sessions lie in the gameplay features of these games.

• Expanded User Base: Cross-play unquestionably expands the user base of a game, thereby increasing developers’ revenue. Cross-platforming brings together users from various platforms into a single gaming session, allowing them to compete with each other and make in-game purchases such as armor, weapons, and more.
• Unified Competitive Events: Regular esports events can involve users from all platforms simultaneously, eliminating the need for developers to create separate versions for each platform.
• Unique Gaming Experiences: Each gaming session becomes unique as players with different control types, such as keyboard and mouse, gamepads, or virtual sticks and buttons, gather in a single lobby. This leads to a myriad of unconventional gaming situations, as different control methods affect aiming accuracy, reaction speed, and more.
• Expanded Audience for Esports: Large-scale esports events attract a wider audience, and new subcategories of disciplines emerge. Experienced gaming enthusiasts, including mobile gamers, now have the opportunity to join famous teams or create their own.
• Seamless Gameplay Across Devices: Players can enjoy their favorite games on the go, and when they return home, they can seamlessly continue their progress by accessing cloud-based save files from their computers.

Despite these significant advantages, several factors hinder the development of cross-platform gaming.

Challenges in cross-platform development

• Platform Holders’ Restrictions: Some platform holders impose restrictions that impede cross-platform functionality.
• Technical Limitations of Mobile Devices: Mobile devices have certain technical limitations that can pose challenges to cross-platform gaming.
• Software Recoding and Repackaging: Cross-platform compatibility may require recoding and repackaging of the software, adding complexity to the development process.
• File Compatibility: Compatibility issues with files and formats can arise when dealing with different platforms.
• Development Complexity: Cross-platform development can be challenging due to the need to account for various hardware configurations and software environments.

Conclusion

Today, multiplayer shooters and RPGs are incredibly popular, leading to a significant number of games in these genres becoming available on both PC and mobile devices. Cross-platform games bring people from all over the world together. However, certain limitations impede its rapid expansion.

In conclusion, while the number of games available on a wide range of devices may still be limited, the trend of cross-platform gaming is gaining momentum. The technical capabilities of consoles are gradually catching up with computers, and efforts are being made to strengthen