Rocket League update adds cross-network play for Xbox One and PC

Developer Psyonix has announced that cross-network play is officially live for the Xbox One and Steam PC versions of its popular soccer-meets-cars game Rocket League. Rolled out with the game's V1.18 update on 24 March, the feature will allow Xbox One and PC players from around the world to join and compete with each other in online play.

"We're really excited to bring Xbox One and PC players closer together," said Jeremy Dunham, vice president of Psyonix. "Cross-network play has been something that Xbox One gamers have been asking us for since the day we launched, and thanks to Microsoft's new cross-network policies, we're proud to give it to them."

According to the developer, nearly two million Xbox One players have competed in Rocket League since February.

The new feature, however, will drastically expand the potential pool of teammates and opponents to choose from. Players will be able to find and include their PC or Xbox-based counterparts using a simple toggle option in the settings menu. Players who wish to opt out of the cross-network play can simply turn the feature off.

Microsoft was initially prepping Fable Legends to become the first cross-network title on the Xbox One before the company decided to cease the game's development and close down Lionhead Studios.

Although PlayStation 4's Rocket League gamers have been able to play against their PC counterparts since its launch in July 2015, this is a first for Xbox One players. Rocket League launched on Xbox One in February.

However, PS4 and Xbox One players will not be able to face off against each other just yet. In March, Microsoft had announced plans to support cross-platform play on Xbox One, making it easier for gamers to play online games with PC users and other "online multiplayer networks".

While Microsoft extended an "open invitation for other networks to participate" in cross-play, Sony said they would "welcome conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross-platform play".

"The only thing we have to do now is sort of find out where we stand politically with everyone, and then it's full steam ahead to finish the solution that we've already started," Dunham told Gamespot earlier.

Rocket League is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.