Sony Worldwide Studio’s boss, Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that Knack will receive a free iOS and Android app alongside PlayStation 4. Speaking with Game Industry, Yoshida said:
We’ve totally shifted our way of thinking. Through the companion apps, the official PlayStation app and game dedicated apps… in some cases, we’re creating small games that go with PS4 titles. We’re releasing a puzzle game themed around Knack that you can play for free…
It’s fun, and by playing the game you earn some items that you can use on PS4. People might be motivated, because they’ve already unlocked some items, to take a look at what this Knack game on the PS4 is all about.
When asked about how Sony revised it’s focus for mobile and tablet market, Yoshida stated that in the past, the developers were seen as competitors for Sony’s own handheld division but now Sony realizes that nearly everyone now has a smartphone or a smart device of some kind present with them.
He said that it’s a tool that everyone uses everyday so they decided to push the PlayStation info to the users as not many people are game-centric, they’re busy with their lives. But a portable smart device is what they carry and they log in to social network sites, so bringing them the info via apps and including them in the PlayStation’s ecosystem is the best move. He also said that the devices can connect to one’s own PlayStation 4 and exchange the information or even connect to the PlayStation Network. Even if one doesn’t own a PlayStation 4, one can easily find out what’s happening in the PlayStation World using their device.
We’ve recently seen such integration by Rockstar and Quantic Dream, both of which brought an app to smartphones for a much better experience. Recently I wrote an article highlighting how the smartphones and consoles integration could in fact result in a perfect harmony and can make the experience of the user much better.
- Read up on that article here Smartphones and Consoles integration, Perfect harmony?
It seems that it will be a norm to see apps related to games in the near future and during PlayStation 4’s own lifecycle. In addition to the app, Knack can also be played remotely and in co-op mode using Remote Play feature which uses a PS Vita.
How do you feel about this move? Let us know below in the comments.
