The PS4's camera accessory, officially called the PlayStation Camera, is sold separately from the console. If you don't have it, you might wonder if the PS Camera is closer to an essential accessory or a silly toy.

Let'southward have a look at uses for the PS4 camera to encounter what you can do with this accessory.

PlayStation Photographic camera Nuts

The PlayStation Photographic camera for PS4 is a small black unit that should fit nicely into near TV setups. You can place it either below or on your TV, depending on how your room is set upward. The Camera includes a stand yous can utilise to arrange its angle.

It's a decent device, with each of the two cameras having a resolution of 1280x800. Information technology captures a maximum frame rate of 240FPS. You lot merely connect the camera to your PS4 using a proprietary cable that connects to a port on the back of your panel.

In September 2016, Sony released a 2nd revision of the camera. The newer model is cylindrical instead of rectangular, though it'due south almost the same otherwise.

The PS Camera has several functions. The simplest is acting as a traditional photographic camera for filming yous in your living room. In add-on, information technology can record audio, cheers to the born microphones. This allows you to chat with teammates in online games, even if you don't have a headset or other mic.

Information technology too functions as a Kinect-style device for motion-controlled games, used in conjunction with the light bar on the dorsum of the PS4 controller or the PlayStation Move controllers.

Because information technology has a microphone, the Camera lets yous command your PS4 using voice controls, with functions such every bit launching a game or returning to the home screen by saying "PlayStation." However, you can also practice this with whatever other microphone, including the basic earbud included with the PS4.

Finally, information technology too offers a somewhat secure fashion of locally logging into your organization using facial recognition. But what other perks practice you get by owning a PlayStation Photographic camera for PS4?

PlayStation VR Requires the PS Photographic camera

While it plainly wasn't available at the system'south launch, PlayStation VR is the biggest reason to purchase a PS Photographic camera if you don't already have one. It provides 1 of the least expensive ways to dip your toes into true virtual reality, as it doesn't require a beefy PC.

Aside from the headset itself, PS VR requires the PS Camera. For many games, you'll also need two PlayStation Move controllers.

PS VR is available in a variety of bundles, many of which include the headset, a few games, the PlayStation Camera, and sometimes the PS Motion controllers. You thus likely won't have to buy the PS Camera on its own unless you buy second-hand components separately.

The Playroom

http://youtu.exist/vv5uI2vlXE8

The Playroom is a free app that comes pre-installed on to all PS4 consoles, but requires the Camera to actually play. If yous don't take the PS Photographic camera, opening this game just plays a trailer.

The Playroom contains a drove of mini-games designed to show off the both capabilities of the PlayStation Photographic camera and DualShock iv controller, offering some uncomplicated fun.

In that location's a flying robot called Asobi, a collection of piddling critters called the AR Bots, a motion-controlled Pong clone, and some free DLC too. These offering occasional entertainment and are worth a look, but y'all probably won't spend much fourth dimension here after the initial fun wears off.

PS4 Photographic camera Games That Aren't VR

Even if yous don't desire to get PS VR, there are a handful of games that have special features for the PS Camera by itself. Wikipedia has a listing of PS Photographic camera compatible games; highlights include Alien: Isolation, all Just Dance games since 2014, LittleBigPlanet iii, Surgeon Simulator, and Tearaway Unfolded.

Of course, none of these games require the photographic camera, and unless yous dear motion controls, you probably won't get much additional enjoyment from it. If yous like party games, it might exist worth the price of admission for an evening with friends messing around on Just Dance, though.

PS4 Streaming With the Camera

The PS4 makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to stream video of yourself sitting in front of your TV using Twitch or YouTube. Players can as well spotter others broadcast their play using the Alive from PlayStation app.

Y'all don't need a PlayStation Camera to broadcast gameplay, just if you want to tape yourself as you play, you'll demand the Camera. If you're serious about upping your Twitch viewers, this is a must.

If you stream, check out how to build an audience for your channel.

Adjusting PS Camera Options

Finally, let's look at where to access some of the options mentioned higher up.

To gear up facial recognition for your PS4 contour, caput toSettings > Login Settings > Enable Facial Recognition. This volition walk you through adding your face up to protect your profile.

To start dissemination your play via Twitch or YouTube, hitting theShare push button on your controller and cullBroadcast Gameplay. And so walk through the steps to sign into your preferred service and adapt options before going live.

Finally, if you don't want to utilise the microphone inside the PS Camera, become toSettings > Devices > PlayStation Camera and chooseMute Microphone for PlayStation Camera.

Is the PS4 Camera Worth It?

It's condom to say the PS Camera is far from an essential PS4 accessory, unless y'all accept PlayStation VR. If you're picking up the VR headset, make sure you either become a packet or a Camera separately, because you must take it for VR.

For anybody else, it's tough to recommend the PlayStation Camera. The Playroom is a pocket-sized lark that you probably won't spend much fourth dimension with, and the games with Camera integration are both slim and underwhelming. Having the system log y'all in automatically by facial recognition is neat, but if you lot're the merely user on your PS4 information technology'due south a moot betoken.

And the voice commands for launching games and similar are available with whatever headset or microphone, and so they're not a reason to pick up a Camera. Y'all're better off putting the money towards a amend gaming headset instead.

So unless you're ownership it for VR, we but recommend the PlayStation Camera if you regularly stream your gameplay. The PS4 already makes streaming a elementary affair, and adding a Camera so your viewers can lookout your face is also piece of cake.

Otherwise, the investment doesn't become you plenty to justify the cost. This is peculiarly the case as the PS4 is phased out and accessories aren't available at a reasonable cost from official sellers any more.

Image Credit: samsonovs/Depositphotos

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1803 Manufactures Published)

Ben is the Editor in Master at MakeUseOf. He left his Information technology chore to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more than as a professional author for over eight years.

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