Dynamic Games, Not One-Size-Fits-All
Introducing cross-mode progression games
There you sit. You’re tapping away with intensity at your phone. Each tap directs your crews to mine various asteroids. You sit, gathering resources and commanding an interstellar empire from the toilet seat. That evening you throw on your VR headset to command an epic space battle from the bridge of your fleet’s flagship — all within the same game. The future of gaming is about how you play, not just where you play.
Gaming has evolved with cross-platform play, letting players on PC, console, and mobile compete in the same game. Epic Games’ Fortnite pioneered this, letting players seamlessly switch between devices. Then came cross-save, where you could make progress on one device and continue on another. Fortnite has been a trailblazer here too, with skins unlocked on one platform becoming available on all.
Now, cross-mode progression will be the next step — going beyond offering the same game on different devices to adapting gameplay dynamically to the device. Imagine using your phone for resource gathering during a commute, then switching to PC for base-building or empire planning, and finally, strapping on your VR headset for a fully immersive space battle. Each platform serves a different purpose, letting you experience the game in ways best suited to the device.
Unlike cross-platform or cross-save, cross-mode progression tailors the gameplay experience to the strengths of each device. As game developers embrace this concept, the future of gaming becomes more flexible and personalized, offering players more ways to enjoy the same game in different scenarios.
As a VR developer, I’ve thought a lot about what works in VR and what doesn’t. Putting on a headset takes time and effort, so VR should be used for those truly immersive, cinematic moments. At the same time, I joined a segment of busy players — gamer dads. We often have just a few minutes here and there to play, whether on a bus commute or even while watching TV with my wife, or yes, even while on the toilet. This led me to realize that games shouldn't be one-size-fits-all across devices.
Mobile is ideal for quick sessions and grindy tasks like resource gathering. PC, with its precision, large screen, and mouse is perfect for more intricate activities like designing a base. VR can elevate the experience when you're ready for epic moments — commanding a fleet in space or negotiating peace deals live with other players. Cross-mode progression games let players immerse themselves in a game across different devices and moments in their day.
Bringing this idea to life involves technical challenges, but many of the pieces are already in place. Cross-saves in games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Hades have paved the way. My team is already prototyping a large-scale space game with cross-mode progression, and we’ve had early success building a back-end system to track player progress across devices.
The future of gaming isn’t just about making games that work on every platform — it’s about designing games that adapt to the platform you're using. I’m excited to develop and play experiences that fit into the lives of busy players while still delivering the epic moments that remind us why we love gaming.
🚀 Mechazilla catches a rocket
The world saw a big first this last week.
Everything SpaceX does, every first for space flight is just a thing of beauty, engineering, and amazement at what humanity can do, and what’s to come. This last week they caught a rocket. The repercussions are huge for future space flight and make me optimistic we’ll see a manned trip to Mars soon.
If you like this, and you’re not already…
See you next time!