The Evolution of Remote Gaming: PSPlay and XBXPlay Apps

Remote gaming, as we know it today, has been around for over a decade. In 2006, Sony introduced this feature, allowing gamers to play their consoles from another device through PS3 and PSP. While remote play between PS3 and PlayStation Vita didn’t meet expectations, the dream became a reality with the launch of PS4.

For some, remote gaming is a given, but for those who can’t always play on a TV or prefer the comfort of their own bed, it’s an absolute delight. Last year, Sony decided to release the PlayStation Portal for this very reason. Despite varying experiences with the dedicated remote play device depending on internet speed, its $200 price tag made it one of the most desired holiday items. If you don’t have one yet, be sure to check out our PlayStation Portal availability guide.

While dedicated remote play devices may be convenient for some, others prefer using their smartphones, which makes a lot of sense considering you always have your phone with you, and even the cheapest phones have better specs than the PlayStation Portal. Interestingly, despite being designed for game streaming over Wi-Fi, Sony equipped it with Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6/6E or even Wi-Fi 7. A truly odd choice, especially since the PS5 boasts Wi-Fi 6.

This is where helpful controllers like the BackBone One, Razer Kishi V2, and other top gaming controllers for phones come in. However, remote gaming on a smartphone still has its perks when using Sony’s or Microsoft’s official apps. Fortunately, I discovered an app made by a different developer that fixed my biggest issue with remote gaming. And the best part? It only costs $7.

Enhancing the Remote Gaming Experience
If you’re looking to improve your remote gaming experience, you’ve probably heard of a small app called PSPlay by Stream Game Dev. If not, this app created by a different developer offers many features lacking in Sony’s official app. PSPlay works on both PS4 and PS5. Unfortunately, there’s no official version for iOS yet, but that might change as Apple soon plans to support alternative app stores.

Although not necessary for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, as I’ll explain below, the same developer also created an Xbox version called XBXPlay at the same price. Just like its PlayStation counterpart, this app adds new features like 1080p support and a Picture-in-Picture mode.

While using these apps isn’t mandatory, personally, they have made remote gaming much easier and more enjoyable for me, and you’ll likely notice a difference too after trying one of them.

Bring Your Own Controller
If there’s one thing Sony loves, it’s restrictions. One example is that you still can’t wirelessly use a Bluetooth-enabled DualSense or DualShock controller for remote gaming on one of the best Windows laptops. You can do it on a Mac, iPad, or Android device, but not on a PC.

When it comes to remote gaming on mobile devices, until recently, you were limited to using Sony controllers. This situation changed with the introduction of the Backbone One and other newer mobile gaming controllers. But what if you have a GameSir X2, as shown above?

That’s exactly the situation I found myself in in 2020, and that’s when I discovered the PSPlay app. Not only does this program offer better remote gaming experiences, it also allows you to use any controller, including the best PC gaming controllers that also work with Android.

Sony has now started licensing agreements with mobile gaming controller manufacturers to ensure their devices work directly with the official remote play app. However, this wasn’t always the case. By downloading and installing PSPlay, I was able to overcome these limitations. But recently, I discovered another hidden feature in both this app and XBXPlay that helped solve my biggest issue with remote gaming on modern smartphones.

Farewell to Black Bars
While TVs have maintained the same 16:9 aspect ratio since the introduction of HD in the 2000s, smartphones haven’t. A few years ago, most smartphones had a 16:9 aspect ratio, but now many of them have 21:9 ratios, just like widescreen monitors.

This works perfectly fine for apps that fully utilize the larger screen size, but the same can’t be said for video content on top streaming services or cloud gaming services. Have you ever watched a movie or series on Netflix or a video on YouTube and instead of content filling the whole screen, you had black bars on the sides? That’s because the content you’re watching – or even the game you’re playing – has a 16:9 aspect ratio, while your phone has a 21:9 aspect ratio.

While streaming the best Steam games to your smartphone, you’re less likely to encounter this issue because many PC games already support the widescreen format. However, PS5 and Xbox games are limited to 16:9 ratios, and we don’t expect 21:9 console games to appear before the best TVs start resembling widescreen monitors.

If you dislike having black bars on the sides of your screen while using remote gaming on PS5 or Xbox, you’re in luck – both PSPlay and XBXPlay offer a way to bypass this issue. It’s not a perfect solution since the remote play app can’t change the aspect ratio in games, but it can fill your phone screen entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions about Remote Gaming:

1. How long has remote gaming been possible?

Remote gaming has been possible for over a decade, with Sony introducing the feature in 2006.

2. What are the available devices for remote gaming?

Several devices are available for remote gaming, such as PlayStation Portal, top smartphones, and phone controllers.

3. Is PlayStation Portal still a popular remote gaming device?

PlayStation Portal was one of the most desired holiday items, although availability and internet speed can affect user experiences.

4. What are the alternatives to PlayStation Portal?

Alternatives to PlayStation Portal include phone controllers like BackBone One and Razer Kishi V2.

5. What features do PSPlay and XBXPlay apps offer?

The PSPlay app offers many features lacking in Sony’s official app, while XBXPlay provides similar enhancements for Xbox remote gaming.

The source of the article is from the blog qhubo.com.ni