Maybe you’re picking up a PlayStation 4 today (and you should, because it’s a pretty damned cool console), and one of the games you happen to pick up supports 2 player’s on screen at the same time. Maybe you don’t have a second controller, but your buddy, wife, girlfriend, dog, brother or sister wants to get in on some two-player action. If you have a Vita, you’re sorted.
As you know, you can use Remote Play to beam the game that’s playing on the PS4 to a PlayStation Vita. One problem with that is that it has to be the same PSN account on the Vita as the PS4. Not really too much of an issue, though. Just use remote play (make sure you’re connecting the vita to the Ps4 directly) and take over the session. Then, with the controller, sign in as a guest or secondary profile.
Aaaaand Bob’s your uncle. The Vita can be used as one controller, while the actual controller functions as player two. I played a whole lot of LEGO: Marvel yesterday with a friend doing this, and as long as the Vita was connected directly, it worked a treat. Response, for a game like Marvel, worked perfectly. Other games at launch that’ll work this way include Knack, and Call of Duty: Ghosts. And probably a few sports titles.
There are some things you’ll have to get used to, like using the rear-touchpad on the Vita as the L2, L3, R2 and R3 buttons, but it’s a good temporary solution until you can pick up another controller. You’ll also forgo any sort of rumble on the Vita.
It’s a bit obvious, really – but If you’ve just blown your cash on a PS4 and don’t have the cash for a second controller at the moment, but you have a Vita gathering dust in your cupboard, put it to some good use.
Last Updated: December 13, 2013
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 13, 2013 at 08:37
This is pretty cool. Take that M$
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 13, 2013 at 08:51
This is really awesome. However, I don’t like that the Vita is being marketed as a second screen and controller. It’s a pretty amazing piece of tech that could really be something great, besides an add-on for PS4
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 13, 2013 at 08:55
It’s an option. The Vita is an amazing bit of kit though – and I really wish there was a bigger games focus.
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 13, 2013 at 09:04
Oh yeah, I get it’s an option, but you always hear on forums and such that people are getting a Vita for remote play…:( but then again I don’t blame them, The Vita doesn’t get as big of a gaming focus that it deserves
TiMsTeR1033
December 13, 2013 at 09:01
That is soo true. I really hope 2014 sees some great vita games coming, perhaps make me want to actually get one.. For now still want me a 3ds or 2ds for some mario! or pokemon at work!
Gavin Mannion
December 13, 2013 at 09:06
2014 The year of the PlayStation … Vita… where have I heard that before?
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 13, 2013 at 09:10
2013 lol
RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba
December 13, 2013 at 09:39
Too soon…
Willem Swanepoel
December 13, 2013 at 08:57
I have to say, well done Sony, that is pretty amazing. Not like M$ adding tech that is pretty much useless most of the time … ;-)~
Hammersteyn
December 13, 2013 at 09:05
Maybe I should get me a Vita today too. Buy it at CNA and lay it off on my Edgars account for the next 6 months.
TiMsTeR1033
December 13, 2013 at 09:12
I would rather buy an extra controller or hell another game.
Hammersteyn
December 13, 2013 at 09:29
Not sure if CNA stocks any PS4 goodies. Will have to see.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 13, 2013 at 09:37
They do.
Hammersteyn
December 13, 2013 at 20:25
Let’s see if I get bonus this year 😉
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 13, 2013 at 09:15
And then you have PS+ for free games 😉
Hammersteyn
December 13, 2013 at 09:28
Exactly
RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba
December 13, 2013 at 09:39
Get the SONY 4 on account dude! PS. I love my Edgars card.
Hammersteyn
December 13, 2013 at 20:24
Paid for my Ps4 in cash. Saved enough for a second controller too. Flipped the hundred rand bills like a pimp on BT Games counter
Admiral Chief of pixels
December 13, 2013 at 09:07
Time to throw out the old tech
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a9dybpD_460sa.gif
RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba
December 13, 2013 at 09:42
This is just sick man! SICK!
RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba
December 13, 2013 at 09:38
This is awesome. Love the concept. Now, to get those ‘surface’ things on the go…
veggiesaurus ZA
December 13, 2013 at 09:48
This was my plan all along. Glad you tested it out. I wish we could sign into remote play (via wifi or direct) on any profile (like on ps3). I don’t always want to be the one using a vita in FIFA 🙁
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 13, 2013 at 10:08
You could work around that, but you’d need another memory card.
veggiesaurus ZA
December 13, 2013 at 10:10
That’s what I was thinking, but actually you need to format and reset the vita’s internal memory card each time you switch accounts. So annoying!
gogot
December 15, 2013 at 20:55
My Wii U can already do this. Out of the box. And cheaper.
dookerj
December 24, 2013 at 02:50
Dude, Wii U is old-gen tech… Barely as powerful as the PS3/360. Great controller; bad console 🙁
gogot
December 24, 2013 at 03:07
*yawn* Wii U is between PS360 and PSOne in terms of power. But, I guess the more powerful console is always the better one. Just take a look at the PSP vs DS or the VIta vs 3DS. Besides, we are at a point where you can only smooth out polygons so much and make the grass look more realistic until you get little in return in advance tech. Sony and MS, what they lack in the creativeness that Nintendo has, they just throw (unreliable) raw power in your face and say “see, look how real the trees look”.
If you want a rushed out console like the PSOne, and can deal with the stress wondering when, not if, your console is going to crap out, then that’s your choice. Nintendo’s consoles are the most reliable.
I’d rather trust a Game company to my Gaming needs, than a computer software company or a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none electronics maker.
dookerj
January 2, 2014 at 21:53
I’d agree about that regarding MS, but Sony has always maintained a strong lineup of exclusives, mascots, indie games, lots of innovation. Now they just happen to have the most powerful console by far (50% more powerful than the Xbone, unoptimized, according to devs), but they are still strongest on exclusives (20+ coming in 2014, MS only has about 2).
Rhinordo0714
February 24, 2015 at 18:07
Ok what if my friend brought his ps vita and we wanted to play something on my profile on ps4; is there any way for the person with the controller to be signed in and play on their account with their data or since the Vita is the first controller that is the account we have to use?
Faltiere Ornalock
July 15, 2016 at 10:24
and then you realised that you spent 200$ on a second controller