PS4’s Share Play Feature Explained In Video Walkthrough

The Share Play feature is one of the big additions coming to the PS4 in firmware update 2.0, which releases on October 28th, and Sony has a released a short video explaining how it all works. First off the Share Play function will be available through the party chat system, and here you have two options on how to use the feature. The first option is to pass the controller virtually to your friend so they can have a go on the game you’re playing. While the game’s owner will need Plus to activate Share Play, the person taking control virtually will not.

That isn’t the case though if you want to play a multiplayer game through Share Play as all participants will need Plus. In the video a timer for one hour appears from the moment is activated, so each session can only last that long. However, it could bepossible just to start a new party and continue from where you left off, though that needs clarifying. The potential of  Share Play is pretty huge since you can practically borrow a friend’s copy, and use it as a demo to see if you like a game before buying it. Or if you need a co-op partner you can invite someone to help through Share Play.

Source: Youtube

39 Comments

  1. I remember spring/summer of 2013 when this was touted as a feature of PS4.

  2. Dont know how i missed this feature but it sounds fantastic.

  3. I can’t wait to try this out although i’m not expecting any miracles on my internet connection. Plenty to look forward to next week :)

  4. Ok. Who wants to get me a star I’m missing on Driveclub. It’s a drift one. I hate drifting.

    • Funny, I was doing some of the drift challenges yesterday and was thinking to myself ‘can’t wait until shareplay so someone can do this for me’ lol. I despise some of the later drift challenges.

  5. Going to be great for those games that people are on the fence about, fingers crossed it works

  6. This looks pretty awesome actually although does this work on competitive multiplayer? For example it shows you in the video a player inviting a friend and playing online with one disc but could they do pro clubs and play against others doing the same? Seems like a great way for games to lose sales if that is indeed the case but we’ll looking forward to it anyway.

    • I can’t help think it might raise sales. Anyone who wants the game will get it. Anyone who’s in two minds or just fancies trying something new, could easily dive in and buy it after enjoying it for an hour. Hopefully there’ll be a multitude of benefits.

  7. So what I don’t get. Apparently the whole world has internet speeds capable of this, hence its release, but when it comes to PlayStation now ( which is essentially a server based version of this p2p functionality) only the US has suitable speeds according to Sony…

    They can’t be both correct

    • Because Sony don’t have the server hubs set up in all the necessary regions for Ps now.

      They’re saving up for some more servers.

  8. @ MrYd: ANY disgaea game springs to mind on that count. Coincidentally I’m drudging through Disgaea D2 atm. 64 hours in 3 level 9999’s-no maxed weapons yet. Plenty of Rank 36-40’s though :) I can imagine Drakengard 3 would have something like Kill a million :) Anyway off point: I have been called a so called Trophy Whore (Cough cough Crazy Del) but I would have to agree that trophies (non mp/co-op) should go to the owner of the game when share played

Comments are now closed for this post.