While we initially thought it was a flaw of the Windows Store that Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare have separated multiplayer for Windows Store and Steam players, but apparently, that is not so. The folks at Windows Central did some digging and found that UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps, including Windows Store versions of games, do support cross-play with normal Win32 versions, normal applications for PC and the ones used for Steam and other platforms. CD Projekt RED’s upcoming card game Gwent does support cross-play between Xbox One, Windows Store applications and Win32 applications.
Windows Central even received response on this issue by a Microsoft spokesperson. The quote goes: “We support cross-play between devices and platforms for partners who want to enable it.”
So, this means that Microsoft is not at fault for the split player base between the two versions. It’s highly likely an issue on Activision’s end. With a pretty small player base on PC according to concurrent player data from Steam, which has been outpaced by niche PC games with strong fanbase like Farming Simulator 17, Activision should be thinking of getting the two platforms play multiplayer together to bolster that number as much as they could.
It’s not like we’re asking to cross-play with consoles. Now that would be a problem due to the advantages PC players will have over consoles in FPS games. Just between PC players on different platforms.