Sony details free PlayStation App with remote download support

The upcoming PlayStation App will be free on iOS and Android, Sony has said, and will allow users to purchase games and have them automatically begin downloading on their PlayStation 4.

In an interview on the European PlayStation Blog, Sony worldwide studios head Shuhei Yoshida discussed the new PlayStation App, which Sony unveiled during TGS 2013.

The PlayStation App allows users to log in to their PlayStation Network account and make use of the console's social features, such as viewing game streams, sending voice and text messages, and receiving invitations to multiplayer games.

It can also be used for second screen gaming, Sony has said, with Knack, Driveclub, and Watch Dogs all supporting the app this year.

"Smaller developers can use PlayStation App to connect to PS4 and load an application," added Yoshida, "like drawing software for example, so that you don't have to download and install a specific app on your smartphone. It's open to all PS4 developers to use."

The PlayStation 4 is launching on November 15 in North America for $399, and on November 29 in Europe for €399/£349.