PlayStation-to-PC cross-play for Guilty Gear Strive to be explored after launch but Arc System Works notes difficulties in implementing the feature
System changes to be detailed before the start of the second open beta
Guilty Gear Strive was originally supposed to release last year before receiving a pair of delays following its betas, and it seems like development on features will continue even after it officially launches in under two months.
Arc System Works Designer Riku Ozawa recently appeared in an interview with Yui Chubu to discuss Strive's arcade location test, cross-platform play and a bit on what to expect before the second public beta arrives.
While the video itself was of course conducted completely in Japanese, Guilty Gear player Shinjin appears to have stepped up to clue the FGC in to the biggest takeaways from the stream.
The biggest of which seems to be about the potential for cross-play between the PC and PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 though the developers re-affirmed that the requested feature won't be available at launch.
PSN-PC crossplay is very difficult but not impossible, but... before ASW even tries that they need to at least complete development of Guilty Gear Strive. #GGST
— Shinjin is シンジン (@shinjinbaiken) April 24, 2021
Work on the expansion of online play reportedly can't begin until Strive ships though Ozawa allegedly noted that the process would be a difficult one to pull off.
Cross-play between PC and console still isn't the norm for current fighting games though it's been gaining traction the past few years with titles like Street Fighter 5, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, Killer Instinct, Fantasy Strike and Brawlhalla taking advantage of the feature.
No reason was reportedly given as to why ArcSys views cross-play as a point of difficulty, but it could come down to a number of factors like the need to use external matchmaking servers, problems with how Strive's online systems were constructed or the differences between how Steam and the PlayStation Network operate.
The feature was first brought up in the Developer's Backyard 4 where Director Akira Katano responded to a fan question on the subject.
"There are many problems that need to be overcome before [cross-play] can be added to the game," said Katano in November. "At this time, we've decided not to implement cross-play on release. We are, however, looking into implementing it in the future. I hope you can support the game as we work towards cross-play implementation."
Strive will of course launch with cross-play between PS4 and PS5 owners, which was already on display in the last beta earlier this year.
One of the other points of note in the new interview Ozawa acknowledging the many posts online showcasing the nerfs implemented in the location test from the console beta, but he reportedly countered that by saying that there's still plenty of new, undiscovered tech in the new build as well as some that wasn't found in February either.
Game balance: there's been some tweets about it mainly being nerfs. For this location test they toned down some options. But there was still plenty of unlocked potential even by the end of the open beta. The location test also includes changes to the meter game. #GGST
— Shinjin is シンジン (@shinjinbaiken) April 24, 2021
In the latest Developer's Backyard, ArcSys revealed they are making changes to improve anti-air options and meter usage, and while the adjustments are apparently already in the arcade test version, they won't go into detail about what's different until they reveal information about the second open beta.
The next open beta has not been revealed to have a date as of yet, but given the fact that Strive is launching on June 11, it will likely need to take place in early May.
