As if you weren’t going to play enough PS4 in front of your TV, Sony has provided the first few details about the PlayStation App, which will allow console access from anywhere around the world. The PlayStation App will launch alongside the PS4 in November and enable “second screen” functionality with certain titles.
In a recent post on the PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation app was described as a free application that anyone can download for free on iOS or Android. Not surprisingly, there isn’t a Windows version. The new PlayStation App won’t compete with other publishers’ second-screen apps (things like Watch Dogs, The Division and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag come to mind), but instead allow smaller publishers to have similar functionality.
“There are many big publishers creating their own apps for their games, like Watch Dogs or Battlefield, and that’s great,” said Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida. “But smaller developers can use PlayStation App to connect to PS4 and load an application, like drawing software for example, so that you don’t have to download and install a specific app on your smartphone. It’s open to all PS4 developers to use.”
Certain functions are totally logical and expected, such as the ability to compare Trophies with your friends, view friends’ activity and access PlayStation Blog news. Interestingly, though, you’ll also be able to use the PlayStation App to view recorded or live-streamed gameplay from your friends, which is pretty cool. PS4 owners will also be able to send voice and text messages to and from a smartphone and PS4.
According to Yoshida’s interview on the PlayStation blog, “A friend on PS4 can also send out an invitation for a multiplayer game, which you can then check on the App, and you can also purchase PS4 games from PlayStation Store. Your game will immediately start downloading while you’re away.”
It all sounds pretty neat, and although I’ve not really messed around with second-screen functions on many devices, I can absolutely see using the PlayStation App to keep in touch with friends who live in different time zones to coordinate play sessions and whatnot.
