Overwatch's crossplay beta has started with a special Ashe event

After 5 years, Overwatch is finally getting crossplay. The feature is by no way revolutionary, but is gradually becoming a necessity.

Overwatch, the competitive first person shooter by Activision-Blizzard, has become a staple in the gaming community.

With an impressive 10 million active players and an international esports scene backed by top NBA franchise owners, it has truly stood out as one of the best team games on the market since its inception.
However, players have historically been restricted to playing with or against others on the same platform, limiting their ability to play with friends on other systems.

Currently in beta, the feature will allow players on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo to play together seamlessly.
To celebrate the destruction of these virtual barriers, players can get their hands on an exclusive hero skin for a limited time.

Previously thought of as impossible, cross-play capabilities is becoming a highly sought-out feature in multiplayer video games.

Originating in the the early 2000s for a certain massively multiplayer online game, the concept gained popularity with the rise of free-to-play battle royales such as Fortnite.

Not only does cross-play benefit the gamers themselves, but it also has a great business case.

Statistically, cross-play has been proven to increase player engagement via amount of time played vs. non-cross-play players, which ultimately has a positive impact on the monthly average revenue-per-user.
Overwatch is by no means "dying", but the implemented cross-play functionality may help restore some of its eroded player base and the 61% decline in Overwatch League viewership.

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