What does cross platform multiplayer mean in a single player game?

[Vindictus]

Can someone explain how in this game and maybe other games how a "Single Player" game has cross platform multiplayer? Does that mean you are playing COOP, PvP, PVE with others, one person, many, massive MP?
I am confused, thanks in advance.

[Elitewrecker PT]

You play MP in the same way you play single-player, except other empries are also players...

[Vindictus]

So are these other players your friends that you arrange a time and day to play or are they strangers who just happen to be online?
I have been ignoring cross platform MP for years because the first thing I see is "Single Player", and then only one other line "Cross Platform MP" and I kept thinking this meant MP on console games only.

[Elitewrecker PT]

Cross-platform in this case means between versions on Steam, GOG or Microsoft store.
You can't cross-play between PC and consoles because they're very different versions.
You can arrange with friends, or host a public game and wait for people to join.

[Vindictus]

Ah I see! Geeeeez, I have been missing out on a lot of games because of my ignorance.
Thanks everyone for helping me out on this.

[Astasia]

If the question is about the general use of those tags on Steam, it doesn't always mean the same thing. An always online game with forced multiplayer can also have the "single player" tag because you can play "solo." IE Path of Exile and Destiny 2 both have the "Single Player" tag, but they are both always online multiplayer games and you can't avoid seeing or often interacting with other players. Stellaris 2 on the other hand is a primarily offline single player game, with an option to host multiplayer matches if you want.

As for cross platform, it usually means the multiplayer, whether it's optional or forced, allows you to play with people on other "platforms." Usually in this case "PC" is a platform, as is Mac, Linux, Xbox, Playstation, etc. Usually cross platform does not mean Steam/GoG, those are stores not platforms generally, but ever since Epic that might be changing.

[Vindictus]

Originally posted by Astasia:

If the question is about the general use of those tags on Steam, it doesn't always mean the same thing. An always online game with forced multiplayer can also have the "single player" tag because you can play "solo." IE Path of Exile and Destiny 2 both have the "Single Player" tag, but they are both always online multiplayer games and you can't avoid seeing or often interacting with other players. Stellaris 2 on the other hand is a primarily offline single player game, with an option to host multiplayer matches if you want.

As for cross platform, it usually means the multiplayer, whether it's optional or forced, allows you to play with people on other "platforms." Usually in this case "PC" is a platform, as is Mac, Linux, Xbox, Playstation, etc. Usually cross platform does not mean Steam/GoG, those are stores not platforms generally, but ever since Epic that might be changing.

Thanks!

[Elitewrecker PT]

Originally posted by Astasia:

If the question is about the general use of those tags on Steam, it doesn't always mean the same thing. An always online game with forced multiplayer can also have the "single player" tag because you can play "solo." IE Path of Exile and Destiny 2 both have the "Single Player" tag, but they are both always online multiplayer games and you can't avoid seeing or often interacting with other players. Stellaris 2 on the other hand is a primarily offline single player game, with an option to host multiplayer matches if you want.

As for cross platform, it usually means the multiplayer, whether it's optional or forced, allows you to play with people on other "platforms." Usually in this case "PC" is a platform, as is Mac, Linux, Xbox, Playstation, etc. Usually cross platform does not mean Steam/GoG, those are stores not platforms generally, but ever since Epic that might be changing.

But you need to be on the cross-play beta branch to play with those other store versions.
And since you can't cross-play with consoles for obvious reasons, there's no other reason for the tag.

[Astasia]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

But you need to be on the cross-play beta branch to play with those other store versions.
And since you can't cross-play with consoles for obvious reasons, there's no other reason for the tag.

Sure. I'm just saying in most cases that's not what it means. The term is starting to change recently, but the vast majority of older games on Steam that term means generally means play with console players. It's a noteworthy tag because PC and console version are usually quite different and it takes some effort to make them play together.