With speculation suggesting Sony could be considering launching a range of handheld PlayStation products that all tap into the same marketplace, cross-platform functionality appears to be the next step forward for the mobile industry.
It's a prevalence that explains Microsoft's decision to demo a single Indiana Jones game running on Xbox 360, Windows 7 and, most importantly, Windows Phone 7 at TechEd Middle East.
The game was developed in Visual Studio and allows players to enjoy virtually the same experience on all three formats, users able to save their progress on one version and pick up their play on one of the other two platforms from the exact same point.
Speaking at the event, Microsoft's senior VP Eric Rudder said linking up formats in this manner is a key step forward for the development community.
"I think that the work that we're doing and commonality of the platform across all of our offerings...is really going to create a new wave of applications unlike anything we've ever seen," he said.
"We talk all the time in the tech industry that the best is yet to come, but I really think the best is yet to come."
Microsoft claims 90 per cent of the code for games running on all three releases would be identical, the remaining 10 per cent allowing developers to make use of each respective format's control set-up - touchscreen on Windows Phone 7, gamepad on Xbox 360, and keyboard and mouse on Windows.
As well as offering advantages for consumers, cross-platform convergence would also aid developers. The benefits of working on one single title that can be sold on three major formats at the same time are fairly self-explanatory.
Engadget
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
8 hours, 53 minutes ago
EU ruling gives Apple six months to bring iPadOS into line with DMA demands
News
10 hours, 36 minutes ago
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen joins LEGO’s board of directors days after Squad Busters’ soft launch
News
11 hours, 54 minutes ago
A Thinking Ape lays off staff across game design, software engineering, art teams and more
Feature
11 hours, 3 minutes ago
King’s Paula Ingvar: a games industry journey from "I’m not worthy!" to Candy Crush Soda’s VP of product
Feature
Apr 29th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters levels up, retro Nintendo on iOS, and Genshin Impact’s worst month yet
News
Apr 26th, 2024
Week in Views - Squads busted, Apple crushed, War zoned and Snoozin' with the Snorlax…
Events
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
The MENA Games Industry Awards 2024 | Middle East | May 2nd |
GameDev Atlantic 2024 | May 4th | |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Popular Stories
News
Apr 23rd, 2024
Supercell’s Squad Busters soft launches today with over 100,000 Google Play downloads
News
Apr 25th, 2024