PlayStation App

Description

Sony Interactive Entertainment releases PlayStation App as a free mobile companion for PS4 and PS5 console owners. The app links a smartphone or tablet to a PlayStation Network account and provides access to a user’s library of games, friends list, PlayStation Store, and controls for their PlayStation console from anywhere. PlayStation App is available on iPhone and Android devices and does not require a PC.

The app was first released in Europe in January 2011 and released worldwide with the release of the PS4 in November 2013. Sony has updated it regularly over the years, adding new features along with major PlayStation console updates.

FRIENDS AND SOCIAL FEATURES

The app displays which friends are online and what games they are playing in real time. Users send text messages and voice chat via Game Base, the social hub within the app, without having to turn on a console. Planning a multiplayer session from a phone or arranging a meet-up time is all done through this section.

Parties — PlayStation’s group voice chat rooms — work through the app as well. Up to a few friends join the same party and chat while gaming. A feature called Party Share allows users to create a shareable link so that anyone they invite can join the party directly, without having to be on an existing friends list. A party that is started in the app can also be transferred to the PS5 console to continue there.

Users share their PSN profile with others by creating a QR code or a direct link, making it easier to add new players without having to manually type out usernames.

TROPHIES

PlayStation awards trophies — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — when players achieve certain in-game challenges. The app shows the complete trophy collection for all games on an account, including hidden trophies that are usually kept secret by the console until earned. Users compare their trophy progress side by side with their friends by opening a friend’s profile and choosing the same game.

A recent update to the app included shortcuts showing trophy progress live while a game is running on the console. This allows players to see what they still need to earn without having to pause the game and go through the PS5 menu.

GAME CAPTURES

PS5 automatically stores screenshots and video clips when players do so or when significant moments occur during gameplay. The app then pulls these captures from the cloud and displays them on the phone. Users download captures to their phone’s photo storage, or share them with friends in the app and on social media platforms. Auto-upload from the console to the cloud must be enabled once in the PS5 settings before captures are visible in the app.

PLAYSTATION STORE

The entire PlayStation Store is available within the app, including new releases, upcoming releases, sales, and back catalog games. Users browse and purchase games directly from the phone and the purchase initiates a download to the console automatically if it is on or in rest mode. A Wishlist feature allows saving of games for later and a notification when a saved title’s price has dropped.

REMOTE CONSOLE MANAGEMENT

The app allows users to send a download command to their PS4 or PS5 from anywhere as long as the console is turned on or sitting in rest mode. This means a game or update can complete its download before it gets home, and there is no waiting. Users also manage PS5 storage from the app — deleting games or moving files to free up space — without sitting in front of the TV.

Remote Play is a separate and related feature. It streams the entire PS4 or PS5 screen to the phone, allowing users to play games on their mobile device using an on-screen controller or a physical DualSense, DUALSHOCK 4, or DualSense Edge controller connected by Bluetooth. Remote Play is best used with a fast Wi-Fi connection. It runs over mobile data as well, though the video quality drops depending on the signal strength.

NOTIFICATIONS

The app provides lock screen notifications for game invitations, PlayStation Store sales, new game releases, and messages from friends. Users control what types of notifications they want to receive within the app settings, so that alerts remain relevant and not a form of noise.

PLAYSTATION STARS

PlayStation Stars is a loyalty program integrated into the app. Members complete monthly campaigns — small challenges like playing a particular game, earning a trophy, or trying a new title — to earn points. Points redeem for PlayStation Store credit or digital collectibles, which are small animated items that users display on their profile. The program runs completely through the app and is updated with new campaigns every month.

SYSTEM Requirements and Setup

PlayStation App requires iOS 14.0 or higher on iPhone and iPad, or Android 8.0 or higher on Android devices. A free PlayStation Network account is required to use the app. Connecting a PS4 or PS5 to the app takes a few minutes and only needs to be done once. After linking, features controlling the console — remote downloads, storage management, Remote Play — only work when the console is on or in rest mode.

The app is free to download and use. Some features, such as purchasing games from the PlayStation Store or subscribing to PlayStation Plus, consist of separate purchases made through the account.