Gaming has become a nearly ubiquitous part of modern culture, whether it be on consoles or mobile devices. Nielsen reports that 50 percent of American console gamers now also play games on a mobile device or tablet, a leap up from just 35 percent in 2011. It is with this knowledge in mind that Sony has made it possible for PlayStation 4 owners to play PS4 games on their Sony Xperia smartphones. So, if you’ve ever wanted to experience your favorite console titles on your smartphone, here’s a look at how you can do it.
Getting Started With Remote Play
PS4 Remote Play has long been available for the PlayStation Vita, which allows gamers to play their PS4 games when away from their console. However, the addition of the Xperia is a breath of fresh air. To get started, you’ll need to Xperiaown an Xperia device that is capable of syncing with the PlayStation 4.
Next, you’ll want to Remote Playdownload the Remote Play app from the Google Play store. This app will allow you to connect your device to your home Wi-Fi network and sync it with your PlayStation 4.
It is recommended that you use your home Wi-Fi for best results. Although it is possible to use a public Wi-Fi network to connect to your PS4, it is very likely that you will experience connectivity issues on a public network. Once you’ve downloaded the app, make sure the latest version of the PlayStation 4 system software has been installed on your console, otherwise you won’t be able to use Remote Play. Turn on the Remote Play feature on your PlayStation 4 through the settings menu and register your device.
Taking Control
Use of the remote play feature for the PlayStation 4 on a smartphone requires a DualShock 4 controller. But, if it seems awkward to play on your phone, you might want to consider getting Sony’s new Game Control Mount, which allows you to mount your phone directly onto your controller for a handheld PS4 experience.
When you first run the Remote Play app on your smartphone, you will be asked if you want to sync a DualShock 4 controller. If you only own a single controller, skip this step for now so that you can use it to navigate the PlayStation menus until you are ready. If you have multiple controllers, go ahead and sync one of them now. At this point, tap the Search button in the smartphone app to sync your phone with your console.
A Better Handheld Experience
As mentioned before, it is best to connect your devices through a shared home Wi-Fi network. Not only is this the most secure way to sync, but if your network is fast enough, it can improve your remote play experience. For example, if you have a strong connection, you can enable a higher video quality for your game. To do this, head to the “Settings” tab in the Remote Play app, and open the Video Quality for Remote Play tab. Here, you can change the setting to High; to improve the quality of the video. If it turns out that this is too much of a strain on your Wi-Fi Nework, you can always switch back to the original video settings through the same tab.
