With only one more day left before release, the throngs have started lining up for console's midnight release. For those of you stuck in line, trying to find something to do while waiting, staring dead eyed into the crowd, here's one way to get prepared if you plan on getting Sony's PlayStation 4 tomorrow. There's something else you may want to grab to make your next-gen experience complete. The Playstation companion app is now available for download from Google Play and the App Store for both Android and iOS devices respectively.
It's a simple way of keeping tabs of what's going in with the PlayStation Network and/or your PS4 console, without having to lug it around, or being right in front of it. With the app, you'll be able to:
- See what your friends are playing, compare trophies, and view your profile or recent activity.
- Chat with your friends; receive notifications, game alerts, and invitations, and then use your mobile device as an on-screen keyboard for your PS4 system. This feature works cross-platform via the PS Vita as well.
- Browse PlayStation Store, pick-up the latest hit games and add-ons, and then push them to your PS4 system so they are ready when you get home.
- Take advantage of the in-app second-screen features, when available, for greater challenges and control.
- Quickly access PlayStation system guides, manuals, and PlayStation.Blog.
Obviously, you'll need a PSN ID in order to take full advantage of the app. After all, it's not like an Xbox Live account would really come in handy here. Then again, that begs the question of why such a person would download the app in the first place, but people are weird.
If you happen to be reading this on your smartphone or tablet, good news, because here are the links for an easy download. You can download the iPhone version of the app HERE, and the Android version HERE. Make sure you grab that system update, too.
Under the hood, the PlayStation 4 boasts Supercharged PC architecture, X86 CPU, Enhanced PC GPU, and 8GB Unified Memory according to the official specs.
It will support the same PlayStation Plus service as the Vita and PlayStation 3. However, a Plus subscription will be required for online multiplayer games, but not for additional media services like Netflix. Sony has also updated the Dual Shock controllers with a touch screen and improved shoulder triggers, and bundles the console with a headset.
The PlayStation 4 is set to release on November 15 in North America and on November 29 in Europe. Day one games available for the system include Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Madden NFL 25, NBA 2K14, Need for Speed: Rivals, and more. It will retail for $399. You can check out a complete list of launch titles' prices and install sizes here.
The company has some last minute games to announce, which will come during GameTrailers TV's PS4 All Access event, tonight at 11PM EST. Sony will take center stage with some world premieres for titles that have not yet been formally announced in a blaze of last minute hype for the console finally releases. So it's got that going for it, which is nice.
Be sure to keep checking back with Gamenguide for more of the latest updates.