At E3 2017, Sony focused mainly on the games PlayStation 4 owners are going to be playing over the next 12 months. However, it also announced PlayLink, which lets anyone and everyone play PS4 games on their smartphones. This is couch co-op gaming for 21st century millenials.

If you're anything like me there's a part of you that misses the good ol' days of gaming. When gameplay was valued over visuals, Sonic and Mario were at war, and friends would play games together on the couch. Sony cannot fix the first two, but it is trying to bring back local multiplayer.

Bringing Console and Mobile Gaming Toegther

PlayLink is a new platform which brings console and mobile gaming together. The games run on a PS4 hooked up to a TV, but smartphones and/or tablets can be used as controllers thanks to the accompanying app. The games will cost money to buy, but the (Android and iOS) app is available free to anyone who wants it.

The idea is that a group of friends will gather at the house of someone who owns a PS4. And then they can spend an evening playing PlayLink games together. The difference being you won't need to own multiple controllers, or spend hours teaching your non-gaming friends how to use them.

The first PlayLink title is That's You!, a party game which sees you and your friends engaging in friendly competition. This will be given away for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers from July 4th, with everyone else getting the chance to buy it from July 5th. You can watch the trailer, starring Shuhei Yoshida and other Sony executives and developers, below.

Sony also announced a handful of other PlayLink games due to be released before the end of 2017. These include Hidden Agenda, a narrative-driven adventure from the makers of Until Dawn; Knowledge Is Power, a trivia quiz for up to five people; and Frantics, a collection of manic minigames.

Sony's Response to the Nintendo Switch

PlayLink feels like a direct response to the Nintendo Switch and its multitude of different playing options. However, instead of releasing a brand new platform, Sony is, rather cleverly, making use of the smartphones we all already own and are comfortable using. Which means PlayLink should be as accessible to casual gamers as it is to veteran gamers. Fingers crossed.

Do you own a PlayStation 4? If so, what do you think of the idea behind PlayLink? Can you see yourself playing PlayLink games with family and friends? If you don't own a PS4, is PlayLink enough to lure you into buying one? Please let us know in the comments below!