PS4 Remote Play app lets you stream games from your PS5

If you booted up your PlayStation 4 today, you have probably noticed a new addition to your dashboard. The new PS4 Remote Play application has now been patched in without much fanfare. The app will allow gamers to stream PS5 content over a wireless connection. Although the PS5 will be backwards compatible with most PS4 games, this new feature may give PlayStation fans a reason to hold onto their old consoles.

“We’re updating PS4’s Remote Play feature”, writes Sony in their PS5 FAQ guide. “Now, in addition to being able to access your PS4 from a PC or a mobile device, your PS4 can access other consoles via Remote Play too, right on your TV. This includes the ability to connect to your PS5 and stream a PS5 game to your PS4 so you can play it there. Additionally, Remote Play will add support for up to three additional users to join the Remote Play session, which allows users to enjoy local multiplayer games via Remote Play.”

This feature will presumably allow players to play their PS5 games with a PS4 controller, which do not work with the console normally. The PS4 Dualshock controllers only work on a PS5 for playing PS4 games. With the PS5 Remote Play feature, gamers can play games from other rooms if their main TV is being used.

The next-gen PlayStation will also support the same kind of remote play features that the PS4 enjoyed on PC and mobile devices. This allows players to access their PS5 on these devices, utilising the Dualsense controller. Additionally, PS5 Remote Play will allow up to three additional users to join the Remote Play session. This means that up to four people can play local multiplayer PS5 titles, streamed to a PC, PS4 or mobile device.

This is not the most crucial feature in the world, but it is a sensible addition. Many of those buying a PlayStation 5 will already own a PlayStation 4. This new app will give these players some additional functionality for their old consoles.