Microsoft revealed earlier this week at the Game Developers Conference that it was enabling cross-network play on the Xbox One and Windows 10, potentially setting up a scenario in which Xbox One and PC gamers could compete online against PlayStation 4 owners (the ball's in your court now, Sony).

Wednesday brought more good news for Microsoft gamers as Jason Ronald, head of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, revealed a new tournament platform during a GDC panel.

As Polygon reports, it'll be called Xbox Live Tournaments Platform and it's being designed to allow developers to add tournament capabilities to their games. Microsoft is partnering with eSports networks ESL and FaceIt which will host their own tournaments using the platform.

Ronald said the platform isn't just for eSports competitors and leagues. Xbox Live group program manager Chad Gibson hopes that one day, gamers will be able to create impromptu tournaments with their friends.

Using Rocket League (which recently announced its own official championship series) as one example, he envisioned a group of friends setting up an eight-player, single elimination, one-on-one tournament just to "see who wins." Tournaments could also work cooperatively, he suggested, allowing friends to work together in a game like Tom Clancy's The Division to climb leaderboards - something they might not be able to achieve solo. Sounds like a good time to me.

Microsoft launched a preview SDK at GDC with plans to have the final version ready later this year.

Image courtesy Rick Polk, Getty Images