Sony Mobile today announced its new range of devices under the Xperia Z3 banner, all of which will allow gamers to play PS4 games remotely.
The new Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet will all be compatible with Sony’s PS4 Remote Play software, which will stream games playing on a PlayStation 4 gaming console over a Wi-Fi connection to the mobile devices.
All game processing is performed on the PS4 machine, so gamers can expect the same top-notch graphics they experience in the living room wherever they choose to play on their phones or tablets. The technology works similarly to screen sharing technologies, where the game is streamed as video to the phone, and game control commands are sent back from the Remote Play app.
Technically, this means you could be sitting in a hotel room on the other side of the world playing your PS4 at home, internet speeds allowing.
For the smartphones, Sony will offer a cradle accessory as an optional extra, which clips on to the top of a PS4 DualShock controller, effectively turning your phone into a portable gaming console.
Sony flexing its many muscles
It has been building to this point for some time, but it looks like the Z3 devices will be the first time we really see Sony offer its mobile customers the best elements of all of its different business verticals.
Sony has experimented with leveraging its experience in gaming through PlayStation into its mobile device offerings for a long time, but this is the first time PS4 gamers have something to be really excited about. Before the Z3, PlayStation’s loyal fans have had little reason to choose a Sony smartphone.
Movie and music fans are also catered for, through Sony’s Music and Video Unlimited services. Like Apple’s iTunes, these services give Sony customers a space to stream or download high-quality, new release multimedia content.
As with previous Xperias, the new Z3s make use of screens and camera technology inspired by Sony’s TV and camera divisions. The Xperia Z3 comes with a 5.2-inch ‘Triluminous’ LCD panel with a Full-HD resolution (1080 x 1920 pixels). The Z3 Compact is smaller, as its name implies, with a 4.7-inch 720p screen (720 x 1280 pixels) and with the same screen technology.
Both handsets comes with 20-megapixel cameras with Sony Exmor-RS imaging technology behind the photos.
Proving that the Z3 range has something for everyone, both phones and the tablet will have the highest waterproof rating yet seen in mobile devices. Rated IP68, these electronics are capable of being submerged in 1.5-metres of fresh water for up to 30-minutes.
Joseph Hanlon
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