Remember the days when you could only team up with friends who owned the exact same console as you? It felt a bit like being in a cosmic club with a very strict guest list. Well, for Destiny 2 players, those days are largely behind us, thanks to the magic of Cross Play.
At its heart, Cross Play in Destiny 2 is all about breaking down those platform barriers. It means you can squad up with your buddies, no matter if they're on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. This isn't some complicated setting you have to hunt down; it's pretty much baked in, ready to go from the get-go. It’s designed to make forming fireteams and diving into activities together as seamless as possible.
Now, it's important to remember that Cross Play and Cross Save are two different beasts. While Cross Play lets you play with others across platforms, Cross Save is about carrying your character progress and purchases between platforms. They work hand-in-hand for a truly unified experience, but they handle different aspects of your Guardian's journey.
One of the neatest byproducts of Cross Play is the introduction of Bungie Names. Think of it as a universal gamer tag. When Cross Play launched, everyone got a unique Bungie Name, usually a combination of your primary platform's name and a four-digit number. This is how you'll identify and connect with players across the vast Destiny 2 universe.
Navigating your social circle has also been streamlined. The Roster screen in the Director now shows these Bungie Names, along with the platform each player is currently using. You can see your regular platform friends and your new Bungie Friends all in one place. It’s worth noting that sometimes, if a friend is on both your platform list and your Bungie Friends list, they might appear a couple of times – a small quirk as the system settles in.
Building your network of allies is easier too. You can add players as Bungie Friends directly in-game or on Bungie.net using their Bungie Name. It’s a great way to keep track of people you’ve had epic raids with or clutch Crucible matches alongside. You can even sync your existing platform friends list to quickly add them as Bungie Friends. Just remember, there's a limit of 200 Bungie Friends, so choose your cosmic companions wisely!
Managing invites and requests is all handled within the Invites tab of the Roster screen, and you can even manage Bungie Friend requests directly on Bungie.net. Plus, for peace of mind, you have granular control over who can send you invites and friend requests through the Settings tab. You can tailor your preferences for Fireteam privacy, invites, and clan requests to suit your playstyle.
There are a couple of nuances to be aware of, especially concerning invites on Xbox and the Microsoft Store on PC. When Cross Play is enabled, in-game invites generally work across all platforms. However, if Cross Play is disabled, those specific invites between Xbox and the Microsoft Store on PC might not function as expected.
And for those who prefer a more curated social experience, the blocking feature is robust. Blocking a player's Bungie Name effectively blocks all associated platform accounts, cutting off communication and invites. It’s a powerful tool for maintaining a positive gaming environment. This new block function also replaces the old muted users list on Bungie.net, offering a more consolidated approach to managing player interactions.
When it comes to matchmaking, things get a little more interesting. For competitive modes like Gambit and the Crucible, there are separate pools for console players (PlayStation, Xbox, Stadia) and PC players. If a console player joins a fireteam with PC players, the whole group will be matched into the PC pool for that activity. Trials of Osiris, in particular, requires Cross Play to be enabled to participate.
On the flip side, non-competitive activities, like Strikes and just hanging out in social spaces, are much more open. These activities will matchmake across all available platforms, creating a larger pool of Guardians to team up with. If you choose to turn Cross Play off, you'll only be matched with other players on your platform who also have it disabled.
And for the clans out there, good news! Clans are now cross-platform enabled too. This means your clan can truly be a global community, bringing together Guardians from every corner of the gaming world. It’s all about fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose, no matter where you log in from.
Ultimately, Destiny 2's Cross Play is a significant step towards a more connected and inclusive gaming experience. It’s about making it easier to play with the people you want to play with, fostering a stronger community, and ensuring that the epic adventures in the Destiny universe are accessible to as many Guardians as possible.
