What's The Difference Between Cross-Play And Cross-Gen

If you’ve been reading up on video game news lately, a few new terms have been used regularly, especially since we’re approaching a transition from the current generation of consoles (PS4, Xbox One) to the next generation of consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X).

Here’s a quick explainer on two terms that are similar but have very different meaning: cross-play and cross-gen.

Cross-Play

Cross-play is short for “cross-platform play”. It’s a term coined more recently thanks to Epic Games’ Fortnite allowing players to play the game with other players regardless of platform. Though the concept has existed further back, like Microsoft’s Shadowrun game from 2007.

So cross-play is why you can play a game of Rocket League on PS4 with a buddy on PC, for example. Usually, multiplayer games only matches you with players of the same platform- you can’t play the same game on Xbox with a friend on PS4. But now more games have adopted cross-play. This includes consoles like PS4, Xbox One and Switch, the PC, and even with mobile platforms, iOS and Android.

Note that cross-play doesn’t mean you can play with anyone from any platform, that’s a per-game basis. Some games won’t let you cross-play with specific consoles, for various reasons.

On another note, there is also cross-save and cross-progression. This term also refers to the ability to use the same game on different platforms. But rather than letting you play multiplayer, this term refers to the ability to bring your save file (or your progress of getting unlocks) to other platforms. The most recent example is Destiny 2, which allows you to carry over your save to-and-from all the supporting platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One and Stadia.

Cross-Gen

This is a shorthand for “cross-generation”. The generation refers to console generations.

A game console has a lifespan and once its near the end, a new console is announced to take its place, hence starting a new generation. The PS4 and Xbox One generation is coming to a close with its successors, the PS5 and Xbox Series X, will be releasing later this year.

If a game is dubbed “cross-gen” that means it has a version running on both the current console and the upcoming console that’s replacing it. Hence, cross-generation.

The more important term right now is “cross-gen upgrade” or “next-gen upgrade”. Some games like Cyberpunk 2077 have promised owners of PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game will receive a PS5 and Xbox Series X version of the game via digital download.

Some of the cross-gen upgrade is free, like Cyberpunk. Some require an extra purchase of the more expensive edition (like NBA 2K21). Others don’t offer upgrades, meaning you will need to purchase a PS5/Xbox Series X version of the game to get the enhanced versions for next-gen consoles (like Control).

Xbox makes it easier to know which games have free cross-gen upgrades with its umbrella term “Smart Delivery”. If you see that, when you buy that game it will include the Xbox One and Xbox Series X version, free.

PlayStation doesn’t have specific terms for it, but be on the lookout should a game mention free next-gen upgrade. PS5 will also support cross-gen upgrades.

Another similar term, but not used currently is “cross-buy”. It still means you getting ownership of the same game for more than one platform. It’s used more when the days of PlayStation is supporting the PS Vita handheld in tandem with the PS3 and PS4, and when Xbox was pushing into PC gaming, with its “Xbox Play Anywhere” term- buy a game for Xbox, get in on Windows 10 PC.