Cross-platform online place with nintendo switch - Eight-minute empire

[darrenrhoads]

Hello. I am new to Steam and playing games via computer. My son has the Nintendo Switch and is heading overseas. The game Eight-minute empire is listed both here on Steam and on the Nintendo Switch sites as cross-platform, online play. So, my question is how do we technically connect with one another using the switch and my steam account? There are other online, cross-platform games I'd be interested in. But Eight-minute Empires is the first. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks

[Wolf Knight]

a good start would be asking in that games forum. every game on steam has a forum section.

right click the game in your library, select VIEW FORUM from the menu that pops up. that will take you right to the games forum.

[darrenrhoads]

I did not purchase the game yet, on either platform, as it would be pricey and not worth doing if it doesn't work between switch and steam. When I went to the game forum/discussion, I couldn't find anything there and couldn't seem to ask myself there.
I guess my question is more generic or 'how-to' do online, cross-platform between steam and switch. Do I need some other account somewhere that would broker a connection to the switch network? Just finding information in this arena to be sparse. TIA

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

- Soon - possible cross-platform online play with the Nintendo Switch players (27.08.2019).

https://steamcommunity.com/games/656590/announcements/detail/3630385043923792816

You might want to wait until they update the game and release that news for it.

[darrenrhoads]

I was looking here on this link:
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/4451/EightMinute_Empire_Emperor_Edition/
and there is a box on the right that lists the specifics about the game and it shows the cross-platform online play. Or at least in my newbie-ness, I understood that box to show the features for the game. So, I thought it was already able to do it.
I guess in that box it also has a note about a 3rd party user account from "Playfab" Maybe that's the key that might make it work? Is that the secret sauce that makes online, cross-platform work between games on steam and other platforms?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

The announcement I posted says today it should be updated for cross platform.

But no new announcement that it is working yet.

[darrenrhoads]

I apologize that I feel like I'm being dense. But let's forget Eight Minute Empire for the moment. Let's say I'm interested in Istanbul: https://store.steampowered.com/app/943410/Istanbul_Digital_Edition
Again, it seems to show 'cross-platform multiplayer' on this page. And then on the nintendo switch page for this game, it also says "Cross platform online multiplayer with synchronous and asynchronous modes". So, what is the mechanism if I bought Istanbul on both devices, that wold allow my son on his switch to play against me on steam? On the steam page for Istanbul, it also says about needing a Playfab 3rd party user account. Is Playfab common for all 'cross-playtorm online' games here on steam?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Possibly but not necessarily.

No. Playfab is not used in all cross platform games on Steam.