Due to improved technology in recent years, more teenagers and youngsters relish playing video games now than in the past. They have their favorite game across different genres. At present, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 ranks high on popular video games. It enjoys popularity among gamers of all age groups. Also, it is compatible with many platforms such as PC, PS5, Xbox, and more.

Unfortunately, Black Ops 3 is not cross-platform.

No doubt, one can play this game on different platforms. But can one also play it on two other platforms simultaneously? Most gamers try to find an answer to this question.

Have you been wondering whether or not Black Ops 3 is cross-platform for a long time? If yes, you have come to the right place. Read on to get detailed insight into it.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – An Overview

Ever since its inception in November 2015, Black Ops 3 has been achieving one after the other new milestones in the world of gaming with each passing year. The twelfth part of the Call of Duty series has gained a strong foothold, both in terms of revenue generation and fame among gamers in the last few years. This highlights its success among gamers as a first-person shooter game.

Developed by Treyarch, the game is available in compatible forms with different platforms. These include Xbox X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and Windows. The credit for making the game available on these platforms goes to Activision.

The background of the game is set in the backdrop of growing tensions between two major powers, China and the USA, between 2065 and 2070. The wide range of downloadable packages of the game constitutes a hallmark feature of the game. This feature also plays an important role in making the game enjoyable.

However, one aspect of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 that makes most gamers curious is whether or not it can be played on two distinct platforms simultaneously in a gaming session. In other words, they wonder if it is cross-platform.

Is Black Ops III Cross-Platform now?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a multiplayer game. Two players can play the campaign mode. The game’s zombie mode can accommodate up to four players in a session. You can opt for any of these options based on your preferences and the availability of players.

When doing it for the first time, you might wonder if it is possible to play the game with your friends if they are on another platform that is different from yours.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Thus far, the game can be played only on the same platform. Thus, you and your friends need to play it on the same platform. Wondering why it is so? There are many reasons for it.

Firstly, the cross-platform functionality of video games is relatively new compared to other advanced features. Therefore, it is likely to take some more time before it becomes commonplace for a popular game like Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

Why Couldn’t Black Ops III Become Cross-Platform Yet?

For many reasons, Black Ops 3 couldn’t become a cross-platform game yet. The prominent one among them is the effort of the game developers to keep the game fair for all players. 

In addition, different gaming platforms offer distinct features. Some provide specific games, whereas others focus on specific features like graphics. Providers of each platform try to provide better features than their competitors. This aspect causes both platforms to be incompatible with one another.

Lastly, game development companies look for ways to cut their production and publication costs. They usually make their game available on one channel to achieve this objective. While it helps with cost-cutting, it also leads to the lack of compatibility between two distinct platforms.

These reasons define why Black Ops 3 could not become a cross-platform game until now. But the gaming industry has been evolving in the past, and you can expect the same to happen in the future.

Going by this logic, there is a possibility that the game may become cross-platform in the next few years down the line. It will depend on the future market dynamics, though.

Is Black Ops III Compatible with Different Versions of the Same Platform?

By now, you would have learned that Black Ops 3 is incompatible with two distinct gaming platforms. But you might want to toss the other side of the coin as well. You might want to know if it supports another version of the platform you have. 

Suppose you have Xbox One, and your friend is on Xbox Series X/S or vice-versa. Can you play the multiplayer version of Black Ops III in a gaming session with your friend? The answer is yes. Is it possible with PlayStation4 and PlayStation5? Again, the answer is yes.

So, while you may not play Black Ops III on different platforms, you can play it on two different versions of the same platform.

This feature has great significance for gamers. As long as the game doesn’t indeed become cross-platform, you and your friends can stick with the same platform. You can use the two different versions of a specific platform if you want. This way, you can have an invaluable experience of playing the game with your friends and interacting with them.

Final Thoughts

The popularity of Call of Duty: Black Ops III makes most gamers keen to try their hand at it. Apart from a fantastic storyline, the game also generates popularity due to its multiplayer feature.

If you have ever wondered whether you can play it with your friend on another platform, the answer to it is no. That said, the game does allow players to take part in a session with two separate versions of the same platform. You can choose your gaming platform accordingly to play the game.