If you're using the official PlayStation app on your phone, you may have noticed an intriguing patch note in the latest update. Sony is introducing (in beta form) a new section named Lore, which will sort of turn the app into a second screen-style experience, containing things like diary entries, character profiles, and cutscenes as you come across them in-game on your PS5.
Currently the functionality only works with The Last of Us Part II Remastered, but presumably this will be something that expands to other games in future. We've tested it to see how it works right now, and it's an unusual extra feature that could potentially be useful.
With the app open, we fired up the recent remaster and played through an early section. We found a note in the game and, once we put it in our backpack, it quickly became available in the app, with a screenshot from the game and the writing in plain text below. Additionally, a Characters tab showed us each person present in a cutscene that was playing. Once that cutscene was over, it could then be viewed via the app as well, we suppose if you wanted to watch it back later. We also had some concept art pop up, which is a nice addition.
There's not much more to it than that, as far as we know; it just seems like a new way to interact with a game and keep tabs on lore items, characters, and so on. Again, it's just in beta for now and only works with this one game, but it does work. We're not fully convinced of its utility just yet but we'll see how it develops.
Have you tried out the new Lore feature in the PS app? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Comments 44
That sounds like one of the smartest additions I have ever heard. I always hated opening the backpack again (or looking at guides) to find what a note was saying, and now I can just open my phone and see it! Brilliant!
We were doing that with the Gamecube and GBA 25 years ago...
Second screen? It's as if some time long long ago there was a small portable device which had this functionality.
Must haVe been my imaginatIon aT work Again.
All I want is wallpapers and a decent upgrade to the whole bloody trophy thing!! Come on Sony I can’t even sort them alphabetically. I know trophies are probably niche on the whole but still there are plenty of us out there. Trophy cabinet? Missing a trick?
Hopefully this will get slightly more consistent support from devs than those Activity Cards. Does anyone even remember that those exist?
This reminds me of Xbox smart glass or whatever it was called back in 2013 where they were trying to push the second screen experience. This looks better than that was though lol. The cut scene replay is something I’d definitely use.
I had this idea while playing Ballers gate three a while ago…
All these books and lore documents that you find throughout the game are probably very interesting but while I’m playing the game, I want to play a game not read.
Give me an app that will save all those books and documents to my phone so when I am on the bus or waiting for the toaster, I can just whip up my phone and read one of those short lore documents and I would eat it up!
I’m not sure…when I play I usually don’t touch my phone to avoid notifications, distractions and so on. For now it seems a bad trade, don’t want to ruin immersion.
How about wallpapers???
This would actually be great if it required no effort from devs. But it is clearly not automatic, so will be forgotten, especially by third party devs. The concept is great though. Wonder if it will be supported in Stellar Blade…
@Mikey856
I’ll raise you a trophy cabinet in VR.
A feature that only Sony's one-per-year first party title will take advantage of.
Wii U called, it wants its gimmick back!
Sounds like the Active Time Lore function in FF XVI but on your phone. This could really great if implemented well and frequently... IF
@thefourfoldroot1 email Sony immediately because that is a proper idea! Imagine handling that bloodborne platinum 😁
@Mikey856 @thefourfoldroot1 the Trophy display room was promised way back in Playstation Home but sadly it never came to pass 😔
@RicebinBernacky I only go to the Activity Cards to find my most recent Screenshot. Trying to find the Gallery is like WTF!?!
I see the Lore section for Last of Us Part 2, but it has zero entries. All the trophies are popped on the PS5 from having loaded the PS4 save but I’m waiting to do full play through of the PS5 version. Gusss I could test launching the PA4 version to get it to show in now playing section. Ideally this lore would roll out to other sections/views of games in library/search.
I usually don't like to spend too much time in game reading books or notes, but being able to do it the day after while commuting it's a nice idea.
Ok, but when is Sony going to let me sort my trophy lists on PS5? It's still weird that PS3 is the device that alphabetizes the trophies. Neither PS4 nor PS5 do it.
If Sony knew what it was doing this would work on Portal, so I'm assuming it never will.🤷♂️
I've wanted in-game maps on my mobile phone for the best part of a decade.
And still we wait.
Seriously. This generation is the worst for innovation and creativity. The industry desperately needs some new faces.
@3Above yeah I remember that too. Home was so good wasn’t it lol. A new version of that would be fantastic
Are we doing Xbox smart pants?
I am all for this kind of things, mind you. It would work wonderfully with Ff16 Active Time Lore.
I thought they already tried this…
@theSpectre i want to be able to sort trophies and delete trophies and games i didn’t like from my profile. Not sure we will ever see this updates. Even wallpapers and folders seem to be off limits.
This reminds me of those companion apps we used to get during the ps4 era. Some of them were really good! I sank hours into the AC4 Black Flag one. It had like a mini fleet management/resource gathering ship game in it that linked to the main game. Was pure genius.
@Nei For the field intel in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth too.
I love this, especially since I can access it even when I'm not in the middle of playing something.
As others have alluded to, I wish more devs would incorporate the ATL (Active Time Lore) system included in Final Fantasy XVI.
Heh, this is what we get from the Bungie acquisition I guess. twitches from Destiny 1 lore card memories
Useful for getting up to date on the lore while taking a toilet break.
Oh, hello, 2012! I missed you!
I’m playing Dragon’s Dogma 2 now and it’d be really cool if I could see my stats, map, quests, pawn details, storage, tutorials etc. on my phone when I’m not playing. I’d use that so much
I look forward to seeing this implemented in 3 games.
@Jerzyna97 I dunno, fumbling around with my phone sounds just as arduous. Each to their own but I like my phone in another room when I play games - for less distraction and more immersion.
So basically Amazon's xray, but for video games. I'm sure it'll get as much use... which is very little.
@Mikey856 well first off trophies aren't niche, as much as the haters might attest to them being so, but second they've put a lot of time into them. Video guides on the os dash for starters. Plenty of search options, not entirely sure why you need them sorted alphabetically, but its come a long way since ps3. If I had to ask for anything it would be a way to permanently unhide trophies once you've beatin the game or even a toggle for the whole list. Comes a point in clean up that having hidden trophies is kind of dumb.
@tweaknmod - Yes, exactly this. 😀🤓
I remember years ago when I used to use my phone as a second screen. Had like the map displayed on the phone. Can't remember what game it was, but I think it was a metal gear solid game. Can't remember if it was on PS3 or PS4.
It's an old idea that 1% of PlayStation gamers will ever use.
I'm all for trying news things but this won't last.
Hopefully it'll take next to no effort for devs to implement, cause I can definitely see myself using it a bunch.
Intentional information gap headline
@RicebinBernacky I use them for quick start at least, but they were quite useful in Spider-Man 2.
Sounds like a job for PS Portal...not my friggin phone again.
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