After previously announcing an iOS and Android app to accompany the release of its PlayStation 4, Sony further detailed its capabilities at last week's Tokyo Game Show, Polygon reported.
The PlayStation App will act as a compliment to several titles, adding an additional screen, a chat feature for online play, Facebook and Twitter integration and more. The smartphone or device running the app can also serve as a game controller.
App users will be able to interact with the PlayStation Network from their device by being able to see friends' recent activity, send and receive multiplayer invites, view trophy information and access the PlayStation online Store.
The new PlayStation App differs heavily from the one already in existence, which is simply a home for Sony news and information. The new app was announced in February, but its details were only revealed now, and will launch alongside the PlayStation 4 when it hits stores on Nov. 15 in the U.S. and Nov. 29 in Europe.
As Bloomberg reports, Sony expects to sell five million units in its first year, mainly because of its relatively low price and holiday season timing. The PlayStation 3, released in 2006, was originally priced as expensive as $599 and still sold 3.55 million units in that timeframe. The latest model widens its entertainment and technical capabilities and is priced at $399.
In the age of mobile gaming, where tablet and smartphone games like Angry Birds have had huge success, Sony and Microsoft are set to renew their console gaming rivalry. The PlayStation 4 will be released one week before the Xbox One, both in stores prior to Thanksgiving, black Friday and Christmas.
Andrew House, Sony CEO and president, told Bloomberg of the company's expectation for the new console in an interview Thursday.
"The advantage of PS4 is that we already have a network and community in place," House said at the Tokyo Game Show. "More importantly we have services from the launch of the device rather than have them appearing gradually as at the time we did with PS3."
