Killer Instinct is testing ranked crossplay between Steam, Windows Store, and Xbox editions of the game for the first time
The testing window will span this weekend, and players cannot block crossplay during that time.
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What you need to know
It’s finally time to pit your Killer Instinct skills against foes on different platforms.Iron Galaxy has shared plans to introduce ranked crossplay to Killer Instinctduring a testing window this upcoming weekend. The test will begin on Friday, February 9 at 12 PM PST/3 PM EST and will run until Monday, February 12 at 8 AM PST/11 AM EST. There are no special requirements to participate in the crossplay test, as joining a Ranked match will be considered your willingness to opt-in. Options to disable crossplay are being disabled for the duration of the testing window.
Killer Instinctgot a fresh lease on life following the November 2023 release of theAnniversary Edition. While plenty of changes and improvements were made at that time, one often-requested feature was still missing. Ranked crossplay has long been a frequent request for the Killer Instinct community. For the first time, players onXbox, theWindows Store, andSteameditions of the game will be able to battle out for the top spot on their respective leaderboards. Iron Galaxy has stated that the Ranked Crossplay Test will be used as a barometer to determine whether the feature will come to the game in the future. Player feedback will be essential.
The crossplay opportunity is still only in testing, so there are some important notes to consider, according to Iron Galaxy. Leaderboards for Xbox/Windows and Steam versions of the game will remain separate, with the team dubbing this decision as “a necessary compromise” for Ranked crossplay to be viable. Players on the Xbox or Windows edition who play a ranked match against an opponent on Steam and lose will see their Xbox leaderboard rank drop, while the Steam player will see their Steam leaderboard rank improve following the match.
Ranked players will not have the option to block cross-network play during the testing window. Choosing to play a ranked playlist is considered as ‘opting in’ to the playtest. However, other unranked modes will be unaffected by this change. According to Iron Galaxy, Xbox players should also not be concerned about playing against Steam and Windows PC users, as those two versions of the game require all players to pass a performance test before joining an online match. The performance test ensures that participants in the match are reaching 60 FPS so that the match feels fair for both parties.
Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition is available on Steam, Xbox, and the Windows store and is also included in theXbox Game Passsubscription service.
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