Cross-progression is a somewhat new concept in the everchanging world of gaming. It allows gamers to play a game on a console or PC and continue their experience on another platform while keeping their precious data fully intact. Although cross-progression seems like a groundbreaking new feature, it isn't as useful as it might seem.
According to recent data, 47.5% of Xbox One owners own a PlayStation 4 and about 20% of Switch users also own all three ninth-generation consoles. While a good chunk of video game fans play on multiple systems, the chances of purchasing the same game for every console are very slim. Cross-progression requires gamers to buy the same game for different systems. If someone is playing Diablo II: Resurrected on their PS4 and wants to use cross-progression to continue their campaign on their Nintendo Switch or PC, they will need to have a copy of the game for both platforms. Its unlikely gamers will shovel out another $30-$60 for a game they already own just to use the cross-progression feature.
Video game fans generally purchase multiple systems to play console-exclusive games. Some of this generation's best games are limited to a specific platform, causing gamers to migrate to multiple consoles. Cross-progression becomes obsolete with console exclusives (unless they are transferring it to a compatible next-gen system) since they don't run on rival hardware.
Although cross-progression seems unnecessary for most modern games, it does have some positive aspects. With next-gen consoles slowly emerging onto the horizon, many gamers are looking for ways to transfer their saved data to their PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Cross-progression allows gamers to upgrade to next-gen consoles without losing their last-gen data.
People who play a lot of free-to-play games also might find cross-progression beneficial. It enables them to play titles like Apex Legends or Call of Duty: Warzone on several devices without having multiple accounts or save files. It doesn't require video game fans to purchase numerous copies of a game, making cross-progression more appealing to free-to-play gamers.
Cross-progression is a cool concept, but it isn't that useful outside of free-to-play games and transitioning to a next-gen console. Most gamers don't want to double their video game expenses to play a game on multiple consoles. It would be more useful if it didn't require gamers to buy numerous copies of the same game. Cross-progression can be exceedingly helpful to a specific group of gamers, but its limited appeal doesn't make it as groundbreaking as it appears.
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