PlayStation App

Features

The application allows users to:

• View which friends are online and what they are playing.
• Receive notifications, game alerts, and invitations.
• Customize PSN profile.
• View progress and compare trophies.
• Keep up with the latest activities from friends and following players.
• Get games and add-ons at PlayStation Store, and send remote requests to PS4 to download in background.
• Send messages to other PlayStation Network members and participate in PlayStation parties. Sony has additionally developed other applications to complement the primary app, such as PlayStation Messages for exchanging messages with PSN users, PlayStation Communities to view PS4 communities and PS4 Second Screen, to use the device as a second screen companion on select PS4 games as well as an on-screen keyboard for quick and easy typing.

Update history

The app was first launched exclusively in European markets on January 11, 2011, and included access to PSN trophies and friends, as well as the PS Blog and information about upcoming games.

With the launch of the PS4 in North America on November 15, 2013, the app got a revamp and became available worldwide. Version 1.70 was released on April 30, 2014, adding notifications, friend request links and custom profile pictures. Version 2.00 was released on October 27, 2014, adding tablet support. Version 2.50 released on March 26, 2015, added accessibility options. Version 3.00 released on September 30, 2015, added Events and guest log in. Version 3.10 added the ability to follow verified players and the messaging portion was spun off into its own app. Version 3.50 added the ability to create events. 4.00 allowed users to change their PSN avatar right from the app. A new app, PlayStation Communities was released on November 29, 2016.

The PlayStation App was completely redesigned on November 7, 2017, with improved load times. The second screen functionality was spun off into its own app and the ability to view live broadcasts and remove trophy lists with a completion rate of 0% were removed.

The PlayStation App was completely redesigned again on October 28, 2020, with options for launching games remotely, managing storage, and signing into a console. Users can purchase and download games straight to their PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.

References

References

1. (2011-01-11). "The PlayStation Official App Now Available For Download".
2. (2013-11-22). "The PlayStation App launches next week".
3. (2014-04-30). "PS4 system update 1.70 launches today – full feature list". PlayStation.Blog.Europe.
4. (27 October 2014). "Major PS4 System Software Update v2.00 Available Tomorrow".
5. (25 March 2015). "PS4 System Update 2.50 Available Tomorrow, Features Detailed".
6. (29 November 2016). "PlayStation Communities App Out Today on iOS and Android".
7. (7 November 2017). "PlayStation App Gets a Whole New Look".
8. (2020-10-28). "Introducing the new PlayStation App, redesigned to enhance your gaming experiences on PS4 and PS5".
9. Lyles, Taylor. (2020-10-28). "Sony's new PlayStation App is seriously clean and lets you do way more remotely".