Well, Playstation gamers, the time that a lot of us have been waiting for may be approaching sooner than we thought.

Cross-platform gaming has been a hot-button issue amongst console gamers for some time, and many of us know that Xbox has already thrown their proverbial hat in that ring. However, of course, something like cross-platform functionality can only work if all platforms involved are on board with the concept. The folks over at Sony (specifically the Playstation team) had been holdouts for some time, causing many players to become frustrated with the company.

But that may all be changing, thanks to an single tweet by Playstation.

That’s right, dear readers. It seems that the popular MMO Fortnite will be getting a cross-platform beta starting today! Sony announced the beta on their Twitter account, and on the official Playstation Blog earlier today. In the blog post, SIE President and CEO John Kodera states,

“For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective. Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.”

So this is pretty big news, gamers! Cross-platform gaming could open up so many opportunities for more players around the world to connect with others, and hopefully also put another nail in the coffin of the console wars, which have plagued the gaming community for so long.

The timeframe for the cross-platform Fortnite beta has not yet been announced, but Sony Interactive Entertainment has assured fans that they will be updating us soon with more information. This will hopefully also open up new avenues for other multiplayer games to go cross-platform. Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but I know that we at PCU would love to see this kind of functionality between consoles flourish. Imagine jumping on your Xbox, and being able to fire up something like Street Fighter V, Soul Caliber V, or even something like FIFA or Madden, and being able to play against friends who have only ever played on Playstation consoles.

As a staunch Playstation gamer myself, I have been with this console since the beginning: with the Playstation 1 (as it is now known). Still, I have a LOT of friends who firmly stick by their decision to stay with Xbox, and have always found it a shame that we haven’t been able to play alongside one another in multiplayer games, or share the same sort of experiences when it comes to some of my favorite titles over the years. This news gives me hope that one day we gamers can all be a little more united in how we play, how we relate to one another, and open new lines of communication between console users.

So how does this cross-platform news strike you, gamers? Would you take advantage of this kind of functionality if (and hopefully when) it’s made commonplace? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below, and be sure to check in with us on Facebook and Twitter!