[Updated] Upcoming Xbox exclusive Crackdown 3 won’t support Xbox Live parties at launch

2 min. read

Published on February 11, 2019

published on February 11, 2019

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Microsoft has just wrapped up its Crackdown 3 Wrecking Zone technical test this weekend, gathering useful data ahead of the game’s worldwide launch on February 15. For those unfamiliar, Wrecking Zone is Crackdown 3’s multiplayer mode offering 5 vs 5 matches with cloud-powered destruction.

Crackdown 3 is the first big Xbox One/Windows 10 exclusive game to launch this year, but for some reason its Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode won’t support lobbying with friends at launch, forcing all players to go through randomized matchmaking. This is what explained the community manager for the official Crackdown 3 server on Discord yesterday, a comment initially spotted by Reddit user Branflakes222 (via Windows Central).

Crackdown 3 also has a Campaign mode you can play in coop with a friend, and this mode will apparently support lobbies. It worth noting that the game’s Campaign and Wrecking Zones are actually two separate downloads on the Microsoft Store, which is quite unusual for a Microsoft game.

The same community manager also couldn’t confirm if Microsoft was planning some additional content for Crackdown 3. This may all depend on the game’s success, but unfortunately, Crackdown 3 will be released alongside several blockbusters games this month including Metro: Exodus, Far Cry: New Dawn, and Anthem.

Crackdown 3 will be released on Friday on Xbox One and Windows 10, and Xbox Game Pass will be able to play it for free on launch day. The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Live crossplay across Xbox One and Windows 10.

Update: The official Crackdown Twitter account shared today that Xbox Live party functionality would be coming in a future update, along with some post-launch content.

Agents, we know you’re eager to play #WreckingZone with friends and we’ll be adding Xbox Live party functionality in an upcoming title update along with other post-launch content. Thank you for your patience and please stay tuned here for more info soon!

— Crackdown (@crackdown) February 11, 2019

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.