Siimba AU

From the end of October, PS4 gamers can enjoy a great new feature that dramatically enhances online social gaming. With the latest operating system update, entitled ‘Masamune’ after the famous Japanese swordsmith, the PS4 will introduce the new option of Share Play. As well as being able to customise the home screen amongst other more superficial features, Masamune’s Share Play will give players the opportunity to let friends play alongside them in games that they do not own themselves. So long as one person owns a copy of the game, Share Play will open up new opportunities for social gaming.

Public opinion of gamers might suggest that the hobby is a solitary one, locking themselves in their room for hours at a time and rarely communicating with the outside world. In actual fact, gaming becomes a lot more fun with a group of friends either in real life or by connecting via the internet. Share Play provides three options to improve this experience that has only been made possible via the PlayStation Network, Sony’s robust gaming network.

Without broadband, multiplayer gaming was restricted to PCs and even then, local networks were the most reliable ways to game with friends. Now that most homes have a wireless broadband connection, multiplayer gaming is synonymous with consoles. In addition, social networking has made multiplayer gaming even more accessible not just through traditional communication, but gaming videos can be shared easily via sites such as Facebook and YouTube. Siimba has combined both social media and gaming by offering deals on PS4 consoles to customers who have shared and included their friends in watching new video clips every day. Join the LinkedIn profile for Siimba in order to keep up to date with all of the company’s gaming challenges.

Share Play is the ultimate evolution of social gaming. The three stages of Share Play range from simply viewing a friend while they play their game, to jumping right in with them. Playing with a friend is only possible on games that currently offer local multiplayer, but there are still plenty of titles that promote split screen play anyway for that not to really impact Share Play’s appeal.

The Masamune update also includes an option to share gaming videos straight to YouTube, further highlighting the PS4’s capabilities as a truly social gaming device.