Smartphone technology has drastically improved through the years so much so that it made mobile gaming an entire industry on its own. And the industry isn't just churning out casual games. Even beloved console and PC games have been ported to smartphone and tablet devices, ensuring that gamers will have their fix wherever they go.
There's just one problem: gaming controls on a touchscreen are far from a joy to use. Sure, once in a while, a game comes along and it's intuitively designed to incorporate touchscreen controls, but still the experience is not perfect. But fret no more. Sony's been listening.
When the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, and Z3 Tablet Compact are released, the devices will let users play PlayStation 4 games directly as long as they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the console through Remote Play support. This means more than just developing games better suited for mobile devices, Sony is taking a different route by allowing existing PS4 games to be played on the new Xperia devices.
To make the mobile gaming experience even better, players can also use the official DualShock controller, which will come with a GCM10 Game Control Mount. The mount will basically act as a scaffold to hold up a Z3 device while gaming. Users can also download the PlayStation App to track friends on the PlayStation Network and buy game titles to be downloaded on PS4 consoles.
Will Sony expand on Remote Play compatibility? Yes and no. The company has said that that at the moment it has no intention of making the technology available outside of Xperia devices. That means, yes, expect Xperia devices to become a series of handy gaming machines, and, no, the technology will remain within the family.
Remote Play was first introduced on the PS Vita for use with the PlayStation 3. The technology has been carried over to the PS4, allowing PS Vita users to basically play PlayStation titles on the handheld. Remote Play, however, requires constant data connection, which rendered it problematic for those with Wi-Fi-only PS Vitas or aren't on 3G/4G service plans for the other models. Including Remote Play on Z3 devices addresses these problems because the newest members of the Xperia family are likely to come with data plans attached, allowing them to connect at any time a game needs to be played.
Pricing details for the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3, 4.6-inch Z3 Compact, and 8-inch Z3 tablet have not been revealed. All of the devices, however, will be made available starting November.
