Sony's Latest Games Make Your iPhone a PlayStation Controller
Sony’s PlayStation has just unleashed the first title in its PlayLink initiative, which seeks to bridge the gap between console gaming and the iPhone in an interesting and exciting new way. The first title in the series, That’s You!, has been released on both the Sony PlayStation Plus program and the iTunes App Store. The game makes your iPhone a PlayStation controller in a unique way. It also works with the iPad.
How Can a Game Make My iPhone a PlayStation Controller?
That’s all part of the magic behind the PlayLink initiative. Announced at E3 in June 2017, PlayLink combines your iPhone or iPad with your PlayStation 4 console and television. A collection of new games are scheduled to be released that will take advantage of this technology, making your iPhone a PlayStation controller.
The games in the PlayLink initiative are designed to be played in a group setting. This is why the games use your iPhone or iPad as controllers – you can have a party game without needing to purchase a bunch of PS4 controllers. Some of the games in the PlayLink initiative are light-hearted trivia quizzes, one is a gritty crime thriller, and all of them turn your iOS device into a versatile controller. You can swipe, drag, tilt, pinch, rotate, or even doodle a drawing or use the camera to snap a selfie, depending on the game.
The First PlayLink Game – That’s You!
That’s You! was released on July 4, and is currently free to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Beginning October 24, the game will be available for digital download along with physical disc purchase for US $20. The companion app for That’s You! is a free download on the App Store, and is what makes your iPhone a PlayStation controller.
This is a trivia game with a new twist, showcasing how much you know about your friends instead of the usual repertoire of uncommon or inessential facts. The game is a social experience where you try to guess what your friend might do in a certain scenario. It’s open to play by two to six players, each with their own iOS or Android device as a controller.
More Games to Come
While That’s You! looks intriguing, it won’t convince me to purchase a PlayStation 4. One of the other games in the PlayLink initiative might, however. Hidden Agenda is billed as a gritty crime drama that supports up to six players using their devices to make decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. The game revolves around a serial killer whose modus operandi is to place deadly traps on his victims, killing first responders in addition to the first victim.
Other upcoming titles include a quick-fire trivia game called Knowledge is Power and an arcade-style collection of mini-games titled Frantics. There’s also going to be an upcoming sequel to the SingStar collection that’s PlayLink enabled, allowing up to eight players to use their SingStar microphone or an iPhone or iPad as the mic.
Sony says there is more coming, including Sony titles as well as games from third-party developers.
