Remote Play already works astoundingly well with Sony’s PlayStation Vita, but the Xperia support promises an upgrade. While the Vita works well as a wonderfully self-contained remote controller + monitor combo, the Xperia devices require the use of the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller.
The Vita has an advantage in allowing for Remote Play via high-speed Internet connections outside the home; it’s not clear if the Z3 supports that, but our guess is no since the DualShock 4 needs to pair with the console. The press releases only make mention of at-home play, but we’re checking with Sony to make sure out-of-house Remote Play isn’t an option as well. Stay tuned.
Related: What is PlayStation 4 Share Play?
The news release recommends pairing the Z3 (smartphone or tablet) with Sony’s newly announced Game Control Mount (GCM10), which is essentially a phone/tablet mounting cradle that snaps onto the body of a DualShock 4 (pictured above). You could also just as easily prop your mobile device up against something or use a proper kickstand.
There’s no release date yet for the GCM10, but the Z3 devices are expected to arrive sometime in September 2014. Remote Play support won’t be added until November. That’s likely connected to the coming release of the PS4’s v2.00 update, which adds the new Share Play feature to the console.
Note that the Xperia Z3 line is the only one that’s going to support PS4 Remote Play (for now), according to Sony. For more details on these new toys, including a detailed specs breakdown, check out our report from IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.
