FIFA 21, Apex Legends, Battlefield – 5 EA games that badly need cross-play

Cross-play could transform these games

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EA is finally addingcross-playsupport to one of its titles, but somewhat surprisingly, it’s Need for Speed: Heat – a game which has largely been forgotten about, and one that isn’t exactly noted for its online multiplayer.

The update for Need for Speed: Heat, which arrives on June 9, will work just as you’d hope: players will be able to race against each other whether they’re on PC via Origin andSteam, or playing the game onPS4andXbox One.

It should go a long way to boosting the game’s longevity, but it’s an interesting choice by EA nonetheless, especially when you consider the wealth of online multiplayer titles the publisher has at its disposal.

And that got us thinking –  with thePS5andXbox Series Xon the horizon, cross-play should become the standard for all EA games. With that in mind, here are five EA games that would really benefit from cross-play support.

FIFA 20

As EA’s most lucrative and popular title, there’s no explicable reason whyFIFA 20doesn’t already include cross-play support. There’s no competitive advantage to be gained by playing on either PC or console (most PC players tend to use a controller anyway), and it’s a game that would benefit immensely from letting everyone play together, no matter which platform they choose to buy the game on. Cross-play would be a huge boon forFIFA 21, then.

Madden NFL 20

Another obvious candidate for cross-play support is EA’s Madden franchise. Once again, there’s no balancing issues to worry about – apart from maybe a few graphical bells and whistles on PC, the games play exactly the same. By adding cross-play support, Madden NFL would certainly have more of a resurgence on PC, a platform where it’s historically struggled as most people tend to opt for the console versions of the game.

Battlefield

Adding cross-play support toBattlefield 5would take a little more finesse, but asCall of Duty: Modern Warfarehas shown, there’s no reason why PC and console players can’t co-exist. Yes, PC players will always have a competitive advantage when it comes to first-person shooters, largely due to the laser-like accuracy a mouse can provide. But honestly, unless you’re determined to rise up the ranks and become some sort of pro, most of us just want to play with our friends online. Add in the option to turn cross-play on or off forBattlefield 6, and everyone’s happy.

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Apex Legends

Apex Legendsmay have been the darling of the battle royale world, but nothing lasts forever. Even though it’s still an incredibly popular game, there’s no doubt that players have had their heads turned by other new and exciting games, such asValorant. But would more people giveApex Legendsa go if they knew they could play with their friends across platforms? Absolutely. Like Battlefield, a bit of tweaking would be required, but the game is a no-brainer when it comes to adding cross-play.

Anthem 2.0

Anthemis currentlyundergoing a major overhaulafter a much-maligned launch. But if EA really wants to win back some goodwill from gamers, and exponentially increase Anthem’s chances of success, cross-play support is a must. Not only will it unite a fractured player base, it’s a great way to boost the game’s overall player numbers. And let’s be frank: if Anthem doesn’t attract new and old players alike, the time and money EA are investing to try and relaunch the game will all be for nought.

Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.

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