PlayStation 4 games can now be streamed directly to PCs via an update Remote Play feature. This comes as part of the 3.50 system software update rolling out today. It isn’t a very big update by any means, although it also includes a couple of new social features that really should have been available from the very beginning.
The PS4’s Remote Play feature isn’t exactly new. It already works with PlayStation certified smartphones and smartTVs, and expanding to the PC is the next logical step for the console maker. That being said, the inclusion of Mac OS X is quite a surprise.
Remote Play will have several graphics options for streaming to the PC and Mac, although it defaults to a resolution of 540p running at 30fps. The resolution can be toggled down to 360p for slower connections, or bumped up to 720p. Similarly, users also have the choice to set the games to run at 60fps if their connections can handle it.
The Remote Play application for PC and Mac will also allow one DualShock 4 controller to work with the machine. Allowing only one controller probably indicates that Sony Interactive Entertainment is assuming people will be playing alone while using the feature; which isn’t too unreasonable.
One small problem is that the announcement of the updated Remote Play feature does not include a link to download the application for PC or Mac. In fact, we are unable to locate the programme anywhere; making it a little more difficult to see what streaming PS4 gameplay to a computer looks like.
The 3.50 system software update also adds ways for people to interact with one another. Most notably, it finally allows users to appear offline and be left alone if they would rather play games alone. Otherwise, there is now a way to schedule event reminders for those times when promises are made to get online and game together.
[Source: PlayStation Blog]
