PlayLink for PS4

“From quick-fire quizzes to immersive multiplayer experiences, PlayLink titles are all about social gaming that everyone can enjoy. Pop a game into your PS4, use your smartphone or tablet as a controller, gather around your TV and prepare for a refreshingly different experience.

Whether you love movie style experiences, quizzes or singing-based party games, PlayLink titles are the perfect way to bring everyone into the mix.”

One of the best, new innovations from Sony this year has got to be their PlayLink system. As quoted above, it focuses on bringing back social multiplayer experiences which are best played with people close by.

We have become used to online gaming, playing against faceless opponents. However, one of the things I loved whilst growing up was the ability to play games with my friends while we all sat together. We would push and shove each other to create disadvantages, encourage each other if playing in co-op and pretend ‘it’s only a game’ if they were more intelligent than us and answered more questions right.

I know what you’re going to say; “but Rob, we have couch co-op games! They have never gone anywhere so whats the difference? Why are you pretending this is something new?!” Well, I shall return that comment which I imagined you had said, with another question – “whats the one thing that online multiplayer has over couch co-op?”

 

When playing an online game, you can only see your screen; when playing a couch co-op game, you will all be looking at the same screen and sometimes each other’s answers/movements. This is where PlayLink does something clever – you use your Android or iDevice to download the companion apps and they instantly become a second screen to the action! So, in games which contain quizzes, other people can’t see what your answer is and in games which require you to work against each other, nobody knows who is betraying who.

Another use of the companion apps is the ability to use a new piece of hardware without having to buy it, for example, a microphone or even a drawing pad. The possibilities are endless – one of the games below basically emulates a Dual Shock 4 controller so you can participate in multiplayer even if you only have one physical controller.

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