Skip to main content

Xperia Z3 tablet and smartphones bring PS4 Remote Play to mobile devices

xperia z3 tablet smartphones bring ps4 remote play mobile devices gaming mount
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Sony-loving PlayStation 4 owners have some fancy new toys to covet, with the announcement that the company’s freshly announced Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact (both smartphones), and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact all support the gaming console’s Remote Play feature. You can effectively turn your Xperia Z3 into an untethered monitor.

Remote Play already works astoundingly well with Sony’s PlayStation Vita, but the Xperia support promises an upgrade. While the Vita works well as a wonderfully self-contained remote controller + monitor combo, the Xperia devices require the use of the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller.

The Vita has an advantage in allowing for Remote Play via high-speed Internet connections outside the home; it’s not clear if the Z3 supports that, but our guess is no since the DualShock 4 needs to pair with the console. The press releases only make mention of at-home play, but we’re checking with Sony to make sure out-of-house Remote Play isn’t an option as well. Stay tuned.

Related: What is PlayStation 4 Share Play?

The news release recommends pairing the Z3 (smartphone or tablet) with Sony’s newly announced Game Control Mount (GCM10), which is essentially a phone/tablet mounting cradle that snaps onto the body of a DualShock 4 (pictured above). You could also just as easily prop your mobile device up against something or use a proper kickstand.

There’s no release date yet for the GCM10, but the Z3 devices are expected to arrive sometime in September 2014. Remote Play support won’t be added until November. That’s likely connected to the coming release of the PS4’s v2.00 update, which adds the new Share Play feature to the console.

Note that the Xperia Z3 line is the only one that’s going to support PS4 Remote Play (for now), according to Sony. For more details on these new toys, including a detailed specs breakdown, check out our report from IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
The best new games to play on Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch
best single player pc games doom eternal fire baron

The past few months have been great for the gaming industry, with excellent titles becoming available across a wide range of genres. Whether you're looking for a game to help you relax or one filled with high-octane shootouts, there's probably something that will fit your needs. Although a few high-profile releases were delayed to later in the year -- including Final Fantasy VII Remake -- there are still plenty of games to sink your teeth into.

Here are the 10 best new video game releases for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch.

Read more
PS4 swan song Ghost of Tsushima will launch just after E3
Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima - Story Trailer | PS4

Sony may be skipping E3 2020, but it'll still be plenty busy come June when Ghost of Tsushima launches for PlayStation 4 as one of the console's last major exclusives before the PS5 arrives later this year.

Read more
Volgarr the Viking 2 will take you back to your Ghosts ‘n Goblins days
A viking slashes a tree in Volgarr the Viking 2.

Developer Digital Eclipse is working on a surprising project: Volgarr the Viking 2. The 2D retro sequel will launch on August 6 for PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The news is an out of left field reveal. The first Volgarr the Viking game released in 2013 and was made as an ode to 1080s classics like Ghosts 'n Goblins. Despite being a small release, it sold over 1 million copies over the past decade. As revealed during today's Guerrilla Collective stream, the series is coming back with a new sequel by Digital Eclipse, the team behind this year's Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story.

Read more