With the remainder of the next generation of consoles soon to hit the shelves (after all, both the Xbox One and PS4 are now less than two months away!), there are seemingly a few common themes that are becoming clear. If the first pillar of next-gen is social support - with both Microsoft and Sony building picture- and video-sharing functionality into their consoles (and Sony going so far as to put a dedicated sharing button in their controller), while Nintendo put a typically Nintendo bent on things with their public message board/drawing app, MiiVerse, it seems clear that the second pillar of next-gen is the use of a "second screen". With the Xbox One using "smart glass" to distract you from what's going on on the screen, and the Wii U coming complete with a giant screen built into its GamePad, Sony have now lifted the lid on their stylish digital companion, the cunningly named "Playstation App".
Watch your friend's broadcasts on the go - just be sure you're on WiFi if you don't want to eat up your data.
Only this goes a little bit further than your average "second screen" experience. Intended to be available as a free download for Android and iOS devices, and built into the Playstation Vita as of the next firmware update, the Playstation App will let you stay in touch with all your friends and your favourite games while on the go. With the ability to check your friend's status feeds, and view all the video and pictures they've been sharing of their hilarious gaming mishaps, compare trophies, and even browse the Playstation Store and buy new games or add-ons wherever you are, the app will even be able to turn your PS4 on remotely, giving it chance to finish the download before you even get home. If you want to arrange a meet-up, you'll also be able to send both voice and text messages to your friends' PS4 - something that's bound to come in handy.
But perhaps the most exciting news is that the Playstation App will also be used to power bonus mini-games, which will let you unlock new, and perhaps exclusive items in their related games. Taking what SEGA started with the Dreamcast VMU to the next level, we've already seen how the app can interact with the bundled camera game, The Playroom, letting you draw an object on your smartphone's screen, before uploading it into the game as a 3D object - but the first "proper" game will be a tie-in for arguably our most anticipated launch title, the cute platformer Knack.
In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida explained: "In some cases, we're creating small games that go with PS4 titles. We're releasing a puzzle game themed around Knack that you can play for free. It's fun, and by playing the game you earn some items that you can use on PS4. People might be motivated, because they've already unlocked some items, to take a look at what this Knack game on the PS4 is all about."While it's undoubtedly a great idea, we do hope it works the other way around, too. While a free, Knack themed puzzle game for Android/iOS and the Vita is great, we'd love to see it available as a downloadable game on the PS4 too - kind of as a little prequel to the sequel, for those who're looking for something cool to play something on their shiny new PS4, whilst also helping out those of us that don't yet have either a smartphone or a tablet, like our accident-prone deputy editor, who hasn't trusted herself with expensive phones since her last one ended its life with a dive into a glass of orange juice. With any luck, Sony will keep the eternally clumsy in mind - because a free puzzle game would be our very first download on the PS4.
