Use PS4 phone apps
Stay constantly connected to PS4 via your smartphone
STEp 1 DOWNLOAD THE TRIO AND GET MESSAGING
Hmmm. Pupils appear dilated. Excessive sniffling. Has the shakes. No doubt about it – you’re an addict. And while I can’t cure you of your dependence on all things PlayStation, I can help you streamline your habit via a variety of PlayStation apps. ( Surely it’s in the Hippocratic Oath somewhere.)
Free on both the App Store and Google Play, Sony’s suite of mobile applications is a godsend. Or Docsend, if you prefer. Which you should if you value your organs. Simply search for these phrases: “PlayStation App”, PlayStation Messages” and “PlayStation Communities”. Then, download one, two or all of ’em. Ahhh – the itching’s stopped already, right?
The dedicated Messages app is the most limited, but incredibly useful for firing off quips to PSN pals on your phone, sending stickers or checking who’s online without interrupting your game.
STEp 2 REMOTE CONTROL AND SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP
Next up is the ever-useful PlayStation App, so multipurpose that it almost puts my cordless drill to shame. Almost.
Want to set up a new game? Tap the blue shopping bag in the top-left corner to browse the PS Store and redeem codes, then start downloads from afar (but your PS4 needs to be left in Rest Mode for this to work) to play when you return home from a bad day at the office. So the morgue, for me. Pobody’s nerfect! *winks*
Touch the “Connect To PS4” option at the bottom-left, pick the console you want to control, and enter the number that appears on your telly into the app. Select “Register” – your phone’s name will pop up under “Add Device”. You can now use your phone as a keyboard, for menu browsing, viewing the chat during streams or as an extra HUD in games such as Tearway Unfolded or MGS V.
STEp 3 TRY THE NEW APP FOR COMMUNITIES
Finally, there’s an all-new app especially for communities (a big Doc PlayStation hello to all the members of OPM UK, by the way).
Still looking for the perfect PlayStation pals with whom to tackle that Destiny Raid or raise that Overwatch competitive rank? This is the easiest way to find your teammates. Just hit the “Discover” prompt at the bottom of the screen. You can flick through the “Games”, Friends” and “Trending” tabs for relevant recommendations, or tap the magnifying glass at the top of the screen to narrow your search.
Perhaps, like the Doc, you’re already happily committed to a cult? Er, clan? If so, you’ll see a list of them in your “Communities” section. Posting messages and pics on the wall is so much easier on a phone, and you also have a handy “Notifications” section so you won’t miss a single post.