Microsoft has announced that games using Xbox Live will now support cross-network play - meaning players on Xbox can play online with those with the same game on PS4, for example. One of the first games to take advantage of that change will be Psyonix's Rocket League.

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ID@Xbox director, Chris Charla announced the move in a statement on Xbox Wire , effectively extending the cross-platform play between Xbox One and PC that had already been announced . Not all games will necessarily allow for cross-network play - Charla made clear that "it’s up to game developers to support this feature". Xbox Live players will also have the option to play only with those also on Xbox Live.It's a step forward from Microsoft, whose policies had previously blocked Xbox One Rocket League players from playing with those on other networks . While Psyonix's vehicular soccer game will now definitely support Xbox-PC crossplay, Charla stated that there's "an open invitation for other networks to participate as well" - meaning PS4-Xbox play is possible, but not yet confirmed. No other games have been explicitly announced as taking advantage of the service.In addition to cross-network play, Charla also announced that an open-source solution, MonoGame, would allow developers to release games made with the XNA programming framework on Xbox One - which does not natively support the feature that helped create the Xbox Live Indie Games service. The first game to take advantage of the MonoGame solution will be previously PC and PS4-only Metroidvania title, Axiom Verge This potentially paves the way for Xbox Live Indie Games to make their way onto Xbox One, although Charla makes no mention of this in his letter.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor and he's now desperately hoping that this news means Mount Your Friends will pop up on Xbox One one day. Follow him on Twitter