The days of playing video games alone in a darkened room are behind us. Now both console manufacturers and game developers are looking to implement social interactivity in every way possible, making it easier to share our experiences with our friends and to find new ways to have fun with them.
Sony has pushed the social aspects of the PS4 to the forefront of the console, and alongside providing plenty of great online and local multiplayer games to enjoy, there’s plenty more to do under the console’s hood that keeps you connected to your friends more so than ever before.
Here’s a rundown of all the ways in which the PS4 makes for a great social experience:
Share Play
The most exciting new addition to the PS4, which made its way to the console in its 2.0 update, is Share Play.
Share Play allows one player to invite their friend to join them while playing a game, even if their friend doesn’t own a copy of said game. If it’s a single-player game then the controller will be “passed” to the invited player, who will then proceed to play through it while the owner of the game watches. If it’s a multiplayer game, then the two players can battle it out together – this even applies to local multiplayer games such as TowerFall: Ascension.
Share Play has a 60-minute timer that counts down after the invite is accepted, allowing both players to enjoy the game for an hour before they merrily part ways. While developers can block their games from utilizing this feature, as the PS4’s library expands we expect that many games will take advantage of allowing players to experience what is essentially an hour-long demo alongside their friends. You can do and unlimited number of Share Play sessions, so even if your hour runs out, you can simply initiate another 60-minute session – again and again – to keep on playing as long as you’d like!
On the Couch
Local multiplayer has been experiencing something of a renaissance over the past couple of years, and Sony is steadily releasing more and more PS4 games you can play with your friends whilst sitting together on the same couch.
Sportsfriends is one such game. Available on the PlayStation Store, Sportsfriends allows you and your friends to duke it out in a selection of oddball mini-games loosely based upon real-life sports. The main attraction of the game is Pole Riders, in which two teams of up to two players go head-to-head to knock a ball into the opposing team’s goal whilst pole vaulting. The game frequently descends into mayhem, with players delivering lethal dropkicks to one another and own goals being extremely commonplace. Prepare to lose friends whilst playing this one.
Creative Multiplayer
One of the most heavily anticipated PlayStation exclusives this year is LittleBigPlanet 3, which is set to add a bright creative spark to the PS4’s line-up.
LBP 3 will add upon the series’ accomplished creative suite, allowing players to design their own levels, customize their characters and practically invent entirely new games within its framework. We were increasingly impressed by the creativity displayed by gamers in LittleBigPlanet 2, where everything from racing games to even first-person shooters had been crafted and shared online for the whole world to enjoy. We can only imagine the kind of stuff people will create in its sequel. We can’t wait.
The Share Button
Whether you’ve landed an awe-inspiring slam dunk in NBA 2K15 or have embarked upon a deadly killing spree in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, the PS4’s Share button allows you to share your moments with your friends as easily and quickly as possible.
Pressing the Share button will bring up a menu that will allow you to either share a screenshot of the game you’re playing, or edit and upload a video using the PS4’s user-friendly editing tools. You can then take your image/video and upload it to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for all your friends to see.
Play with the World
Thanks to the increased power of the PS4, an MMO like Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn had made its way to a home console and can now actually compete with its PC counterpart on a number of levels.
Though Bungie’s Destiny isn’t an MMO it does have many MMO leanings, with its central hub Tower being a place in which you can brush shoulders with players from all over the world, and its planets allowing for multiple Guardians to venture round them, engaging in spontaneous battles with enemies and helping one another to victory.
The Key to Success is Teamwork
If going head-to-head isn’t really your thing then there are plenty of games on the PS4 that will scratch that co-op itch. Take Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition, for example, a tremendous port of the PC classic that actually improves upon the original game in a variety of ways.
Along with including the excellent Reaper of Souls expansion, which consists of arguably the greatest chapter in the entire game, it also perfectly tailors the control scheme of the original game to the PS4 controller, even adding in a rolling mechanic that makes evading enemy attacks that much more satisfying.
Multiplayer Reloaded
Along with providing wonderful new multiplayer experiences, the PS4 also boasts some remastered versions of the most celebrated titles from last-gen, which provide improved variations on the likes of The Last of Us’ hugely underrated multiplayer mode and the upcoming GTA Online, the online component of Grand Theft Auto V with added first-person mode. Both of these titles offer unique multiplayer experiences with added improvements due to the extra power the PS4 provides.
Good News, Sports Fans
Sports games remain enduringly popular, and thanks to the improved visuals that the PS4 provides they look better than ever. From the almost photo-realistic graphics of NBA 2K15 to the smooth player animations in FIFA 15, fans of sports games have plenty to play on the PS4. They also remain the most robust games in terms of multiplayer, offering a variety of ways to experience the game with friends and other players.
For instance, NBA 2K15‘s MyPark mode allows you to wander around a basketball park side-by-side with your friends before challenging another team to a match, while FIFA 15 boasts a Pro Clubs mode in which you can create your own team and play with up to 10 of your friends, alongside its famous Ultimate Team mode which allows you to form a team of superstar footballers before climbing the ranks online, earning coins to buy new players along the way.
