"Fortnite: Battle Royale" is expanding to iOS and Android mobile devices -- its cross-play options along with it. An earlier announcement revealed that the multiplayer shooter would only support cross-play between PS4, PC, Mac, and mobile devices, but Epic Games provided some clarification for Xbox One owners in a surprise Saturday update.

Xbox One owners will also be able to cross-play with other "Fortnite: Battle Royale" players on PC, Mac, and mobile devices. However, a wall will remain between the two console platforms as the PS4 and Xbox One will not be able to play together.

The PlayStation 4 already supports cross-play between it and the PC with the Xbox One currently left out of cross-platform shooter shenanigans. Interestingly though, Epic Games accidentally allowed cross-play between the PS4 and Xbox One briefly last year to the joy of many fans. This showed that cross-play between the two consoles is mostly a business decision, largely on Sony’s side, with few technical barriers.

Epic Games made clear in their Saturday announcement that they’ve been working with Microsoft over the course of several months to make cross-platform play possible on the Xbox One.

Additionally, the developer described the console maker as a “leading voice in supporting cross-platform play, connecting players across PC, mobile and all consoles.”

While Microsoft jumped into supporting cross-play with both feet not long after the tenure of Phil Spencer as Xbox Head started, it has steadily built a library of titles that support the feature like “Minecraft," “ARK: Survival Evolved," “Rocket League," “Gears of War 4," the “Forza” series, and much more.

It will be interesting to see how Epic Games juggles matchmaking between five different platforms while keeping the PS4 and Xbox One separate. Bringing together 100 players for each “Fortnite: Battle Royale” match requires a large pool of players, which it certainly has already, as the game continues to grow. How It may be large enough to allow the two consoles to stay separate remains to be seen, but fans will certainly be clamoring for the two to come together.

Mobile sign-ups

Those interested in trying "Fortnite: Battle Royale" out on iOS will have their chance starting Monday, March 12 at the game’s official site. Epic Games will be rolling out a beta with invites to those with at least an iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad 2017 running iOS 11. The number of invites will grow over time and eventually include Android devices in the coming months.
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