PS4 News: Remote Play Capability Required For All Games, Says Source

The PlayStation Vita will be able to be used as a remote play station for all PlayStation 4. The Vita would function much in the same way the Wii U's Gamepad works in conjunction with the system to allow the game to play on a handheld system while others use the television.

A source speaking to Digital Foundry claims that Remote Play will allow PlayStation 4 games to be compressed onto the Vita through local Wi-Fi. The whole game can then be played on the Vita, unless they require the PlayStation Eye. The Vita then acts as a dummy terminal, with the PlayStation 4 remaining on and doing much of the work for the Vita.

While the Wii U's Gamepad also has special functionality while in use, such as a second screen used in conjunction with the main game on the television, the Vita is used solely as a terminal for the PlayStation 4 and will not have any special function for regular play.

This will be a huge boost to both PlayStation 4 and the Vita. This will allow Vita users to get access to a huge library of future PlayStation 4 games when the system comes out. In addition, this could drive PlayStation 4 sales for those wishing for the remote play functionality of the Wii U, but want the power and library of the Sony console. The Vita should also see a boost in sales, which has yet to gain mainstream traction.

The Remote Play function is nothing new in the world of video games, but Sony has the advantage of connecting two of their consoles together to create a unique experience. The ability to use local Wi-Fi should streamline the experience and make the transition between console and handheld much easier than other similar services like OnLive cloud streaming technology.