Sony brings PS4 gaming to Xperia Z3 range of smartphones and tablets

Sony has announced that owners of its new Xperia Z3 range of smartphones and tablets will be able to play full PlayStation 4 games on their mobile device. A feature already available on the company's PS Vita handheld console, the Remote Play feature will initially be available on the Z3 family of devices, which has been announced at the IFA trade show in Germany. They include the flagship Sony Xperia Z3, the smaller Xperia Z3 Compact, and the 8-inch Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The system would apparently come into effect in November.

Sony said the feature would come to older Xperia smartphones and tablets in time, but it still had no plans to open it up to non-Sony mobile devices. However, the feature will only work if you already own a PlayStation 4. The company sees it as a way for players to continue playing even when someone else wants to watch TV.

Sony will also sell a DualShock 4 controller that features a clasp at the top, into which you can clamp your smartphone or tablet, although as the controller connects via Bluetooth, you can just prop your Z3 device up on a table and control it remotely. While Sony already has a PlayStation App available for all iOS and Android devices, it only acts as a second screen when using the PS4, showing additional content such as maps. The system will theoretically allow users to play games any way with their smartphones or tablets, but Sony told IBTimes UK that to get the best experience, you should only play games when on the same network as your PS4 console. Furthermore, Sony suggests having the console hardwired to your router while the smartphone/tablet is connected to WiFi. (See more of the new Sony devices, including their specs, in the gallery below.)

Sony Xperia Z3 specs:

* IP68-certified dust-proof and water-resistant
* LTE
* 2.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset
* Adreno 330 GPU
* 3GB RAM
* 16GB/32GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
* 5.2-inch IPS-LCD display (1,080 x 1,920 resolution)
* 20-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash
* 2.2-megapixel front camera
* 3,100mAh battery
* Android KitKat 4.4.4

A Sony SmartWatch 3 and a Sony Xperia Z3 are seen on display during the IFA Electronics show in Berlin September 4, 2014. REUTERS/ (GERMANY - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS TELECOMS)

A Sony employee holds a Sony Xperia Z3 and a Sony Smartband Talk during the IFA Electronics show in Berlin September 4, 2014. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke (GERMANY - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY)

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact specs:

* IP68-certified dust-proof and water-resistant
* LTE
* 2.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset
* Adreno 330 GPU
* 2GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 64GB)
* 4.6-inch IPS-LCD display (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 20-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash
* 2.2-megapixel front camera
* 2,600mAh battery
* Android KitKat 4.4.4

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact specs:

* IP68-certified dust-proof and water-resistant
* LTE
* 2.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset
* Adreno 330 GPU
* 3GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
* 8-inch TFT-LCD display (1,920 x 1,200 resolution)
* 8.1-megapixel rear camera with autofocus
* 2.2-megapixel front camera
* 4,500mAh battery
* Android KitKat