PlayStation Europe

Remote Play game streaming between PlayStation 4 and PC or Mac computers has arrived, as part of the latest firmware update to the Sony console.

Essentially a fancy name for network streaming, Sony has implemented some variation of Remote Play since the days of PS3 and PSP. In its current form, gamers can stream content from PS4 to PS Vita or PS TV (Sony's attempt at entering the microconsole market), via wifi. With the launch of the PS4's 3.50 system update, that function will now extend to desktop computers.


On the console side, all you'll need to do is update to the latest firmware when prompted. On your computer, you'll need to be running Windows 8.1 or higher, or Mac OSX 10.10 or 10.11, and to install a Remote Play app, which should be available here once the firmware is live. However, content will only stream in a max quality of 720p resolution at 60fps, with 540p and 30fps defaults. You will be able to use your Dual Shock 4 controllers on PC though, which you'll need to connect via USB cable.

Plans to bring Remote Play to PC and Mac were announced in November 2015, when head of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida tweeted that the company was working on an official application. Yoshida's announcement came just days after a fan-built mod had made the feature possible.

Much of the 3.50 update is focused on streaming and the social experience of gaming. Aside from Remote Play, you'll now be able to broadcast your game sessions to Dailymotion (along with existing platforms YouTube and Twitch). Clips of your friends' games can also be shared to Facebook or Twitter, effectively retweeting their best moments across social media.

Other improvements set to arrive include the ability to appear offline, preventing interruptions from invites and messages; an optional friend notification system, alerting you when mates come online; the introduction of user-created events, custom gameplay sessions you can invite friends too; and teen accounts, allowing players aged 13-17 to create their own account and start playing in offline mode, until parents approve the account and complete the parental control set up at their leisure.

There will also be a new PlayStation Plus hub, a central location for your online storage and free monthly games that come with being part of Sony's subscription service.