Posted on 3 Apple

How to play PS5 or PS4 games on iPhone using Remote Play

If you’ve ever thought about streaming PS5 or PS4 games to iPhone or iPad, don’t be surprised anymore! Thanks to Sony and its PS Remote Play app, you can now stream all your favorite console games to your Apple device. While it’s important to know how to play PS5 and PS4 games on iPhone, don’t consider this a replacement for a real console.

Now let’s check out this cool feature, shall we?

What is the PS Remote Play App?

Sony’s PS Remote Play app is a program that uses your iPhone or iPad as a wireless display. Basically, it mimics everything that happens on the PlayStation console and streams it back to the Apple device.

At the same time, any controls you use on the iPhone or iPad are sent back to the console for processing. In this way, your iPhone or iPad effectively turns into a second screen for the game.

Using the on-screen controls, you can also play the game on your Apple device. However, console games are not meant to be played on a small device like the iPhone. On-screen controls may interfere with your view and overall gameplay. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a compatible controller with your iPad or iPhone in order to play PS4 or PS5 games.

In most cases, using MFi certified controllers (made for iPhone) will be enough to play these games on your iPhone. What’s more, Sony’s DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers are officially compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Things to consider before using Remote Play

  • You won’t be able to play games on your iPhone or iPad using mobile data. To ensure smooth streaming, you need to connect your iPhone and console to the same Wi-Fi connection. Also, you need to make sure the connection is secure.
  • Your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 software must be updated to the latest version. To see if your console software is up to date, you can check it on the console settings screen. It will also give you the option to update the software.

Additional Requirements for Game Streaming on iPhone and iPad

  • PS Remote Play app from the Apple App Store.
  • Your iPhone must be running iOS 13 or later. As for your iPad, it must be running iPadOS 13 or later.
  • Your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 must have the latest firmware update installed.
  • A working PlayStation Network account.
  • Strong and stable Wi-Fi connection.

Play PS4 or PS5 games on iPhone or iPad

  1. Download the PS Remote Play app from the App Store.
  2. Open the app and select Start → click Confirm and Continue.
  3. For now, the app can search for compatible PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. However, you’ll need to sign in with your PlayStation Network account first.
  4. Once you’ve signed in to your PlayStation Network account, allow the app to search for your PlayStation 4 or 5 again. Make sure your console is turned on and you’re signed in with your PS4 or PS5.
  5. Once the app finds your PlayStation 4 or 5, it will connect your iPhone or iPad to the console. When successfully connected, you should see the PlayStation home screen on your Apple device. On-screen controls let you navigate and play games.

Note. For Remote Play to work, your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 and iPhone/iPad must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Add your iPhone or iPad to the console’s remote playback devices.

Sometimes, even if your console is turned on and you are signed in to the PlayStation network, the Remote Play app may not be able to find or connect to your device. This is quite common if you are using the app for the first time.

Nothing to worry about. Basically, you need to add your iPhone or iPad to the console’s supported Remote Play devices.

  • For PlayStation 4 users, you will need the console to be running firmware version 7.02 or higher. Ideally, it should use the latest available firmware. The rest of the steps to add an Apple device to the console’s remote play devices are the same for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
  • Go to the “Settings”menu to register your Apple device in the “Remote Playback Devices”section of your console.
  • Go to Remote Play Connection Settings and open it.
  • Select the “Add Device”option.
  • After selecting the “Add device”option, an eight-digit code will be displayed on the PlayStation screen. This code will only be valid for a limited period of time.
  • Use your iPhone or iPad and open the PS Remote Play app. Then select “Register Manually”in the bottom half of the app screen.
  • Enter the code received from the console into the Remote Play application. After successfully verifying the code, your iPhone or iPad will be connected to the PlayStation 4 or 5.

A few settings to remember

  • Before connecting your iPhone to your PlayStation, go to the settings menu of the PS Remote Play app. From here, you can make changes to the resolution or frame rate depending on your network performance.
  • More importantly, you must change the resolution. Personally, I would recommend that you change the resolution to 480p or 540p. While the app sets the standard to 720p, it may not work if you don’t have a strong Wi-Fi connection. For PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 Pro, the app will target 1080p resolution. However, this can be taxing on your iPhone and may not result in a great gaming experience if you don’t have the best Wi-Fi plans!

Experiment with the frame rate and resolution settings to see what works best for your device!

What you need to know before playing games on iPhone

  • Use a controller for the best gaming experience. There are many Mfi certified game controllers available in the market. This will also remove the on-screen buttons and increase your field of vision.
  • If you’re running iOS 13 or higher, you’d be better off using a DualShock 4 or DualSense controller with an iPhone. These controllers are better equipped to provide superior gaming experience than other mobile controllers.
  • I wouldn’t recommend playing action games or first person shooters with this kind of gaming setup. There may be delays in gameplay due to many factors, some of which may be beyond your control. Thus, with this Remote Play setting, it is better to play strategy or turn-based games.
  • Wi-Fi connection must be reliable and stable. For remote playback, I would recommend a Wi-Fi speed of 150 Mbps or higher.

Best Steam Games Remote Play

As mentioned before, strategy or turn-based games are the best gaming games to try on your iPhone or iPad via Remote Play. That said, here is a list of a few of the best PlayStation games you can play with PS Remote Play:

  1. Assassin’s Creed Odysseus
  2. Gone home
  3. Journey
  4. Persona 5 Royal
  5. Highway
  6. overdone

Game over!

Now that you know how to play PS4 and PS5 games on your iPhone and iPad using Remote Play, another gaming dimension should be available to you. While it’s not the ideal way to play games if you don’t have access to a TV, the PS Remote Play app can be very handy. What games would you recommend playing on iPhone or iPad via the PS Remote Play app? Let me know in the comments below!

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