PlayStation 4 mobile app launches November 13, delivers second-screen support

By Adam Rosenberg October 28, 2013

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sony is set to launch a free PlayStation App for iOS and Android devices on November 13, 2013 in North America, two days before the launch of the PlayStation 4. The app’s central feature is, of course, second-screen support for PS4 titles that allow it. It’s the same sort of stuff that Microsoft’s own Xbox SmartGlass enables.

The app also allows users to access their Sony account profiles on the PlayStation Network. You’ll be able to view your friends list and send messages, check out your Trophies, browse through the PlayStation website, purchase content from the PlayStation Store, and use your app-equipped mobile device as a remote control for the console.

There’s one other noteworthy feature as well: the app allows users to actually spectate PS4 gameplay. According to the press release, notifications appear in the What’s New section of the app when friends are live streaming or if they’ve shared a new clip. By tapping the link, the app launches “pre-installed applications, such as browsers, to spectate the uploaded gameplay.” So no in-app streaming.

It’s not clear which games, if any, will make use of the PlayStation App at the console’s launch. Games like Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4 both relegate second-screen functionality to dedicated apps of their own. We know that Knack supports co-op via the PlayStation Vita’s Remote Play feature, but that’s a completely different kind of second-screen play.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Gaming

This PS5 bundle gets you a PlayStation Portal and it’s not sold out, yet

PlayStation Portal bundle home screen while turned on.

The PlayStation Portal is an excellent, albeit exclusive handheld gaming console that works with the PS5. In our Portal review, we made it clear that while it cuts a lot of corners, it is an excellent companion to Sony's titular current-gen console. But to make the most of it, you really do need a PS5, which means if you don't have one, there's no point in buying a Portal until you do. Well, we spotted an incredible bundle that includes the PlayStation 5 Slim, a PlayStation Portal, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 all together, all for you, at one great price. For $750, normally $760, so saving you $10, it's all yours. But here's the thing, the PlayStation Portal has pretty much been sold out everywhere. This bundle gets your hands on it, plus everything else you need to play. It even includes Spider-Man, so you can web-sling as soon as you set it up. If you've been searching high and low for the Portal, don't sleep on this deal.

Why you should buy the PlayStation 5 with PlayStation Portal bundle
The PlayStation 5 is a fantastic gaming console, but the exclusive games available on the platform are second to none. God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Death Stranding, I could go on and on. But one of the better features of the PlayStation 5 is the option to remotely play your games on compatible devices, from your smartphone to a PS4 in another room, you can connect in, stream, and play, just like if you were sitting in front of your PS5. The PlayStation Portal takes that to a whole new level.

Gaming

Our favorite PlayStation games of 2023: Spider-Man, Final Fantasy, and more

With the video game industry as busy as it is these days, there's rarely ever a "bad" year for any console. Even in a less busy year, platforms like Xbox still tend to have highlights in exciting indie games. That was true for PlayStation this year, which continued its strong momentum this generation despite only having a handful of big-ticket games.

While not every big PS5 exclusive thrilled this year, there were a lot of strong experiences to dive into. Developers got more mileage than ever out of the system's beefy tech specs, while PlayStation VR2 gave the platform some creative, immersive experiences. That's not to mention a handful of indies and third-party releases that Sony locked down as console exclusives for a time. That list of heavy hitters even included Baldur's Gate 3 for a few short months. In reflecting on another great year for PS5, we've highlighted seven games that stuck with us this year. Some were certainly divisive, but all of them helped give Sony's powerhouse system some extra depth in a crowded year.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Gaming

Nintendo Switch vs. PlayStation Portal: which portable device is best?

PlayStation Portal and the switch on a table.

Handheld gaming has come back in a big way this past generation. Nintendo formerly held the crown as the king of the dedicated handheld market with its unfathomably successful DS line, which would eventually combine into a home console with the equally impressive Switch. PlayStation attempted to get into this market with the PSP and PS Vita but appeared to bow out of that competition when the latter failed to achieve much success. However, the new PlayStation Portal device could provide players with an alternative to Nintendo's aging system.

If you're debating between the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portal, here's a full breakdown of how the two devices stack up.
Nintendo Switch Vs. PlayStation Portal specs
When it comes to specs, let's start with the easy comparisons.