It turns out there's a major drawback to playing 'Fortnite' on a PlayStation 4, and gamers are frustrated
Nintendo
The world's most popular video game, "Fortnite: Battle Royale," is officially coming to the Nintendo Switch, with cross-platform play with players using iOS, Mac, Windows PC and Xbox One.
PlayStation 4 owners, however, will not be able to play online with Switch players, and are restricted from bringing their Fortnite progress and Battle Passes between the two consoles.
Nintendo announced at E3 on Tuesday that the world's favorite video game, "Fortnite: Battle Royale," will finally be available on the Nintendo Switch starting today. However, for PlayStation 4 players, the release of the Switch version has highlighted a major frustration with how Sony does business.
First, the Switch version of the game will support cross-platform play with players on Apple iOS, Mac, Windows PC and Xbox One, but not PlayStation 4. This means a Switch player will not be able to play "Fortnite" online with friends on PlayStation 4. Still, this is what we've come to expect from Sony, which has a history of blocking online play between the PlayStation 4 and other consoles.
The larger issue is that "Fortnite" players are unable to log in to their Epic Games account — which you need to play Fortnite — on both a Switch and the PlayStation 4.
If you log in to "Fortnite" with an Epic Account on a PlayStation 4 first, that account will then become unusable on a Nintendo Switch. And if you log in on the Nintendo Switch first, that account won't work on a PlayStation 4. It should be noted that the same limitation is applied to Xbox One gamers who try to bring their accounts to the PlayStation 4, and vice versa.
In all cases and scenarios, players will be met with an error message upon trying to log in on the opposite device. Players will be required to create a separate Epic Games account in order to play on the opposite console.
This means that if you've been collecting in-game items like V-bucks, rare skins, or emotes on an Epic Games account linked to either your PS4 or Switch, you will not be able to bring that progress to the opposite console. It's especially frustrating for those who paid $10 for the Battle Pass, which adds premium features to the game — it means you'll have to buy it all over again with your brand-new second account.
Many PS4 and Switch owners are already expressing frustration on social media. For instance, video game commentator and prominent YouTube personality Greg Miller shared a screenshot of the error message he received while trying to log in to his Fortnite account on a Switch:
Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1006598694311944194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
.@PlayStation, fix this.
Not allowing me to sign-in to Fortnite Switch with my Epic account because it's linked to PS4 is tone deaf and points more to fear than market dominance.
It does the opposite of what you want -- it makes me think about moving to Xbox for Fortnite. pic.twitter.com/D9xqv9aWdF
Here are a few more of the many player reactions from Twitter:
Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1006604242721890305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Fortnite for Nintendo Switch has cross-play with all versions of the game... except for PS4.
In fact, you cannot use your Fortnite account on the Switch if it's attached to your PS4.
Grow up, Sony. Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1006592992361222145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Very disappointed in Sony holding PS4 #Fortnite players' Epic Games accounts hostage from playing on the Nintendo Switch. I understand not wanting to cross play with Xbox, but the Switch is a fundamentally different console. Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1006580511312044033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Since @Sony is apparently blocking #Fortnite cross-play between PS4 and Nintendo Switch, I will be switching to Xbox One as my non-Switch platform of choice so that I can team up and play with my kids. I recommend anyone who can do the same.
Sony, Nintendo and Epic Games were not immediately available for comment.
Read more of BI's coverage from E3, the largest game conference of the year:
The 7 biggest announcements from the first 2 days of E3 2018
NOW WATCH: Here's why coating our streets white could help lower temperatures in the summer
See Also:
Nintendo just blew the lid off at E3 2018 — and competitors could learn a thing or two
The biggest game in the world, 'Fortnite,' is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch
SEE ALSO: The biggest Nintendo Switch game of the year, 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate', arrives on December 7