What a time to be a gamer. Just five years ago, battle lines were very clearly drawn between consoles and PC, but the two sides are now starting to blend in. PlayStation gaming is becoming available on PC and random hardware like TVs and Blu-ray players via PlayStation Now, select Xbox games are coming to PC via Windows 10 cross compatibility, and now this. Been Reeves writes for gameinformer about how gaming on PC via Steam is soon getting a PlayStation twist.

 In short, this means that players will be able to tailor their games to use Sony’s PS4 in a variety of new ways. For example, you’ll soon be able to use the PS4’s touchpad and gyro features as inputs for games that you play through Steam. Get a sneak peak at the user configuration screen for the DualShock 4 controller in the image up top. 

Best yet, developers can fully map out the DualShock 4 controller to fit their games need. Lars Doucet, developer of Defender’s Quest:

 Believe it or not, when you use the PS4 Controller through the Steam API, it’s exactly the same as a Steam Controller. You make the exact same API calls, you only get actions, not inputs, and the Steam API takes care of everything 

Now here is where things get even more interesting – one major advantage of the DualShock 4 over traditional PC controllers made by Razr and Microsoft via Xbox is its Touchpad. For those unaware, the official Steam controller also incorporates a Touchpad, making DualShock 4 an ideal controller for gamers on PC. And who knows, you might start out using the DS4 for Steam games and soon find yourself downloading PlayStation Now to see what console games are all about. If nothing else, Sony is able to sell their hardware to a wider audience, even if they’re not directly core customers.

I’ve argued this before and perhaps we’re beginning to see the initial steps of it, but the future of PlayStation isn’t a specific numbered console, but the idea of gaming. One bond that currently connects gaming on PC, PS4, and a 4K TV is the DualShock 4. If Sony can further push the idea and integrate technologies that make syncing the DS4 even easier between different devices, then gamers can begin to change their habits so that soon, all they’ll need is a DS4 controller and a PSN account and suddenly, any connected device transforms into a gaming console. This isn’t much different than Netflix where once they were tied to the idea of needing a Blu-ray/DVD player and now, they’re on every device either via an app or the web browser.

PlayStation as a console maker will always face a fairly low ceiling but PlayStation as a general destination to game? Now that has near endless opportunities.

Discuss:

Do you think this is simply a move from Sony to nab some extra accessory sales or part of a grander plan?