Android App Remote Play PS5 PS4 PlayStation Sony 1
Image: Push Square

We’ve never had much luck with Remote Play. While we used the feature sparingly on our PS Vita, the results left a lot to be desired, with constant drop-outs and macroblocking making all but the most passive releases unplayable. We observed similar results using the official app on a variety of our phones.

But having purchased a Retroid Pocket 3+ recently, we decided to give the tech another spin, and had heard positive things about a third-party app named PSPlay. Now, full disclosure, you do need to pay for this: it costs $5.99/£5.99, so it’s a little on the pricier side. But the results are absolutely remarkable, and well worth the asking fee.

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Setup is really straightforward, and once you’ve followed all the steps you can wake your PS5 from Rest Mode whenever you want to play. We’ve mainly tested local connectivity – which barely worked for us with the official app – but is flawless here, allowing us to play PS5 games pretty much anywhere in our house with very little compromise.

Android App Remote Play PS5 PS4 PlayStation Sony 2
Image: Push Square

We knocked down the streamed resolution to 720p, as that’s closest to the native panel of the Retroid Pocket 3+, and helps maintain a good quality image that rarely ever macroblocks. There’s the slightest of input lag, which is practically imperceptible in 3D action games like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Hogwarts Legacy, although you may struggle with timing-based rhythm games. Not the end of the world!

We did struggle a little bit initially creating a controller profile that works well with the Retroid Pocket 3+, as there are some input differences with the DualSense, but you can map some commands (like the Create button) to combined button press, which works adequately enough. And if you’re using a touchscreen, you can customise the layout of the interface.

Ultimately, this has completely transformed how we play our PS5. While we still prefer the full-screen, 4K experience, sometimes you just want to hammer out some Trophies or game progress in bed – and this app has made that a viable strategy for us. We’ve always liked Remote Play in concept, but we’ve never been able to get it to work efficiently. Turns out this Android app is a bit of a miniature miracle.

[source play.google.com]