PS4 players have enjoyed the remote play feature for some time now, allowing them to use their phone as a screen and controller for the console even from afar, but now the feature is confirmed to be coming to PS5 as well. The most recent PS4 update introduced some nifty new features to that console but also rebranded the Remote Play app and added support for PS5.
Previously known as the PS4 Remote Play app, PS Remote Play will cover both the PS4 and the PS5. When launching the app, players choose which system they'd like to connect to and then can play PlayStation games from their phone.
Until now, fans were uncertain as to whether this unique feature would carry over, but the PlayStation Blog confirmed it in the article about system software update 8.0.0. This does bring to mind some interesting questions about how remote play will work on the PS5, though, and also helps make feel the imminent release of next generation consoles feel all the more real.
When playing remote play on PS4, players can use their phone screen as the PS4 controller. This allows players to enjoy their favorite games even when they're away from home and don't have a controller with them. The preferred method is to use the Bluetooth function on the DualShock 4 to connect it to one's phone, but this isn't required. With that in mind, given the complexity of the DualSense controller, it will be interesting to see how PS Remote Play handles this problem.
The app description confirms that players can use the on screen controller for the PS5, but it will most likely be somewhat limited compared to the actual DualSense. Within the app and in the description there is talk about connecting a DualShock 4, but as of yet there's been no mention about the DualSense being compatible with Remote Play.
There's no obvious reason that it wouldn't be though, this is just to say that it's not fully confirmed as of yet. It's also unclear whether players can use their PS4 controllers on remote play to play PS5 games, as Sony confirmed the DualShock 4 is not compatible with PS5. Alongside this major change, PS Remote Play also got some other upgrades.
Some of the screen designs have been updated to provide a more modern look, and button assignments made on the console can now be used in Remote Play as well. It should also be said that Remote Play will need to be enabled from within the settings menu of the PS5 once it launches, a change that should help with security a bit.
The PS5 releases November 12th.
Source: PlayStation Blog
