Top 10 Best Game Reveals Of The 2014 Summer

5. Share Play

One of the most surprising things to get excited about this year wasn't really a game, but a new service that Sony is putting into place for Playstation 4. Share Play has the ability to let others latch on to another user's PS4 to try games they don't own.

When first announced, online crowds went wild, as this sounds like all games are free forever now. Naturally, the reality of it is a bit more nuanced, which lessened some of the impact of the announcement. That doesn't mean, however, that this service is any less revolutionary than it truly is. Sometimes, we're at the wrong end of the unattainable expectations we set.

Share Play doesn't just allow for unlimited sessions of any game. First up, a user will need to send out an invitation to a friend to have them start playing. In one of its applications, the invited party can continue on their own, which is used to solidify social bonds, by having someone jump in for those who can't pass a certain point in a game. We all know what that's like. Getting stuck is a bummer. Saves are kept on the end user side, which can then be continued if they get the game afterwards.

Secondly, it's possible to just play multiplayer games together. This is the interesting part, since it basically equates to single-cart downloads on Nintendo handhelds, but applicable to just about every title. If there's one thing that sells extra copies, it's friends buying together, so Sony making that more of an option, instead of a requirement, is a tremendous effort.

So, what are the downsides? Well, like with the Playstation 4 in general, Playstation Plus is mandatory to use Share Play, since it can unlock multiplayer functionalities. Additionally, invites given out are good for sessions of one hour, but no more. It can, however, simply be renewed with a new invite. More so, a full hour multiplayer round is probably plenty for most games to get the point across. It even gives people an excuse for a bathroom break, only to start over. Well played, Sony.