Did any of the early birds among you stay up the week before last to watch the Tokyo Game Show keynote? If you did, you’ll have seen Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida take to the stage to unveil the new PlayStation App, launching alongside PS4 later this year.
In general terms, the new app allows you to take the PlayStation experience with you when you’re away from your PS4. You can stay in touch with friends, compare Trophies, view friends’ activity (such as recorded or live-streamed gameplay), and access all the latest PlayStation.Blog news.
I caught up with Yoshida immediately after the show, and asked him to expand on exactly what gamers can expect from PlayStation App later this year.
“It’s an application that anyone can download for free on iOS and Android devices,” he explained.
“There are a variety of things you can do with it. You can connect to your PlayStation profile and send messages — even voice messages — to friends between your smartphone and PS4.
“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.”
PlayStation App will also offer ‘second screen’ gameplay features on enabled titles. For example, during the TGS presentation Yoshida showed how the app interacts with The Playroom — he drew a picture of Knack on his smartphone’s touch screen, and then pushed it into the PS4 game on his TV, allowing the game’s bot characters to play with the item he’d created.
“There are many big publishers creating their own apps for their games, like Watch Dogs or Battlefield, and that’s great,” he added.
“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.”
We’ll have a more in-depth look at PlayStation App in action nearer launch.
keep the apps coming
what about PS Vita?
Is this something that will be coming out along side the ps4? Or will we be waiting longer to get our hands on it.
NICE!!
also i love how its an open app to all the developers instead of having an app for every game.
I know the chances of this happening a virtually zero, but PLEASE consider making a Windows Phone version. Not all of us that bought windows phones swing the Xbox way. Long live play!
Was expecting more (or any) visuals, lol.
Yes, what about PS Vita?
Also, why aren’t more companion apps coming to PS Vita? Especially the one for Knack? Seems stupid to me that first party related companion apps would skip PS Vita. I know why they’re on mobile, but why force PS Vita owners to go to mobile if we don’t want to?
And yes, while it’s (Knack’s app) is just some puzzle game, it’s still something I’d like to try out… on a platform I actually care about using for game related things.
all I know is that I better be able to mark destinations, keep notes, and take pictures that I can thumbnail to that map while I’m playing using my tablet.
Awesome Stuff!!
Will you guys also be offering the PS App on the BlackBerry network? Should be a fairly simple port. Please look into this if you are not already.
“and you can also purchase PS4 games from PlayStation Store. Your game will immediately start downloading while you’re away.”
“There are a variety of things you can do with it. You can connect to your PlayStation profile, and send messages – even voice messages – to friends between your smartphone and PS4.”
Outstading… i hope this is on Day one right ?
No word on an app for Windows Phone (or Windows 8)?
I was leaning toward a PS4 at launch, but if my phone is not going to be supported for the second screen experience, it looks like I’ll be picking up an Xbox One first instead; and I’ve been primarily a PlayStation gamer since the original PSX.
An epic home run! So looking forward to this PlayStation App.
This would be nice to have on my phone. However I’d also love to be able to use all that functionality on my Vita. I would hope you are also releasing the app on PS Vita as well
I know I’m a minority here but… Windows Phone, please?
All i care about is adding games to my ps3/ps4 queue.
I have full faith that SCE is making this a feature for the PS Vita, but I’m just putting out there as a long-time PlayStation lover, this needs to be accessible on the Vita unless you want to turn people away from the platform?
I have to agree with the above comments, This app and all the Companion apps need to come to the Vita as well because one of the Vita selling points is being the “Ultimate Companion” for the PS4.
About time really. Microsoft has had a great app for the 360 for a few years now. Although by the sounds of it Sony has 1-UP’d them with the PS app. Great job guys! I have 2 PS4’s pre-ordered, for myself and my son – can’t wait for launch! PS4TW!
Wow, look at you SONY – multitasking! Most impressive!
I don’t have and never will have a cell phone.
Will all these ‘apps’ people keep making for games ever work with computers? I know more people without cell phones than with, but everyone has a laptop.
What’s an IOS device? Not sure I know that phone company.
I’m probably more excited for this app than I am for the PS4
For all the people asking for the App to come to windows based phones think about it … windows=Microsoft=Xbox … seriously doubt Microsoft would allow sony to publish an app for their os…
As for this guy + JSax86 on October 3rd, 2013 at 10:40 am said:
No word on an app for Windows Phone (or Windows 8)?
I was leaning toward a PS4 at launch, but if my phone is not going to be supported for the second screen experience, it looks like I’ll be picking up an Xbox One first instead; and I’ve been primarily a PlayStation gamer since the original PSX.
you kinda sound like your full of it … as far as I know no one in the US is taking any more pre-orders for the PS4 … but enjoy your XB1 & thank sony for making them drop all those insane policies … PS4 was outselling XB1 4 to 1 so they did a complete turn around on their policies
Plz. Make the UI snappy like the PS4 interface. Finally, waited soo long for a dedicated Sony Playstation app!
@22
iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch – all made by Apple – are mobile devices running iOS. Hence the name “iOS device”.
Anyways, what about the people who have a PS3, but have no plans to pick up a PS4 at launch? Will it still be useful to those people (make purchases in the Store, send messages, etc.)?
They should change the PS Vita interface to be more like PS4. From what Sony showed at TGS and Gamescom, it would work nicely with a touchscreen and the back touchpad (which should be used a lot more on the UI).
I really hope you get our feedback on the app and apply it as soon as possible. It sucks when an app or an update is released on Android and iOS, and everybody complains about the same issue, but the developers never do something about it, or take ages to fix it.
@13 I don’t know if they’d be releasing support for that on their competitor’s device day 1, although it would be funny. My guess is more so that the playstation app is available on iOS and Android in Europe right now, so they are just finishing up the integration with the app with the network here in the states. They would have to make it compatible with Win8 apps, but I don’t think that would take as long as setting the interface up in the first place, which they are almost done with.
The real question is, will Microsoft allow them to put it on their devices?
@22…ha…ha…
…um, what about the Vita?
Make the app more Android. Follow the Design Guidelines!
I hope psvita get it too that would be nice if we did get it
You should make sure this app is on PS Vita as well for those’s who own 3G PS Vita or is using their Cell Phone as 3G/4G to connect Vita using its cell phone wifi.
Pics or GTFO :p
@ INFIDEL_JIHAD Not full of it; just sick of my platform of choice constantly being skipped over with everything. Developers say they won’t develop for it until there’s more market share, while consumers won’t go where there are no apps. It’s a catch-22. I’m not saying I don’t want a PS4. And MS did do a 180 after Sony forced their hand… I wasn’t even interest in one until that happened. But they’ve put themselves in a good position and this kind of support is what will sway me one way or the other.
Come on Sony, start supporting your own handheld. These apps need to be made for the Vita first. Later if you want them on other devices fine. But I see no reason to release an iOS or Android app instead of a Vita app. This is another reason the Vita doesn’t sell well. Can’t even get support from Sony.
This sounds great. It would be so nice if we could post and read comments on blog posts as well through this app. Hopefully that’s the case.
I would LOVE to see someone take advantage of the pressure sensitivity & stylus on the Galaxy Note!!
I don’t think I’ve been this excited for an app before.
@ 34 makes sense
In one of the videos, I think it was on IGN, they mentioned this app will be on the Vita.
If anyone wants to find it, it was the video where they were toying around with the Playroom, I think. I’m at work so youtube is offlimits.
So I think you can rest easy, the Vita will get a version of this app I can almost guarantee.
This is going to be amazing app for the PS4 can’t wait to try this out. PS4 day 1 i’m out.
and because it does not come out for PS Vita also is mobile and would be great
Any chance for Windows phone 8 support?
I just hope that it works. So once I get my PS4 on release day, I might get the PlayStation App.
Another vote for Windows Phone (and Windows 8/RT tablet) support.
You all do realize that ALL of this functionality is currently supported on the PS Vita, right? And for those that aren’t, well, there’s going to be a FW update when the PS4 comes out to add support for the platform, so…
On PS Vita, can you currently…
See your friends’ profiles? YES
Chat with or PM them? YES
Voice messages? NO
Send invites cross platform? YES, but you can only accept them on the platform they were sent on
Make PS3/4 purchases? NO
So for the most part, everything’s already there. And for those that aren’t, well, I’m pretty sure they’ll be added in the future.
+1 for a Windows Phone app!
It would be nice if the PlayStation app had a barcode reader to input codes for use on the psn store and made use of the camera during game broadcasts for both the users and spectators. Also it would be great if you could use your phone for keyboard entry on the ps4.
Someone above said we are a minority, being Windows phone users.
Just looking through the thread and there are 14 + comments mentioning the same thing :), were on the rise my friend . I personally use the nokia Lumia 920 and love it.
Sony please look into this.
Thanks
Happy hunting All :)
Looking forward to this feature, there are often times I’m away and things drop and your just like awww man if I could just pop back home for a minute.
One question I will ask is if someone is playing on your PS4 can you still access the store and friends list remotely?