X

PS4 Share Play hits roadblock with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Latest game in the popular franchise blocks the Share Play feature on Sony's PlayStation 4, which is supposed to let friends share games over the Internet.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
See full bio
Don Reisinger
2 min read

Sony's PlayStation 4 has a Share Play feature that works with most, but not all, games. Sony

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare isn't playing nice with the Share Play feature on Sony's PlayStation 4.

Advanced Warfare blocks all Share Play functionality, GameSpot confirmed. When gamers try to use the online game-sharing feature, all gameplay footage is marked as censored, according to GameSpot. While this doesn't affect the owner's console, it prevents games from being streamed to a second PS4. GameSpot is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET News.

Share Play lets gamers stream game content to friends over the Internet -- essentially letting two PS4 owners play a single copy of a game. Using Share Play, the owner of a game, called the host, can stream gameplay footage to a second PS4 console, called the guest. The host can also relinquish control of the game, letting the guest play the game for a 60-minute session without ever needing to buy the title. There is no cap on Share Play sessions, so the host can repeatedly use the feature to let friends continue playing.

Activision, which publishes the game, told CNET News it is working to evaluate how Share Play will impact Advanced Warfare across all modes of play.

"Delivering a great gaming experience for fans is our top priority," an Activision spokesman told CNET in an emailed conversation. "Our engineers didn't have access to it before it launched, so we haven't had a chance to evaluate it to see how it will impact the experience across all modes of play. Of course we wouldn't include a feature in our game without having the chance to test it. Once we've fully analyzed its performance, we'll determine how to support it going forward."

Share Play, which was rolled out in version 2.0 of the console's software last month, not being supported in one of the year's biggest game releases is a black mark on Sony and the PlayStation 4. Just last week, Sony said the feature would be supported across all PS4 games, according to GameSpot.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launched on Monday to strong reviews and the typical excitement surrounding the popular game franchise. The first-person shooter puts gamers into a futuristic environment and offers a wide range of offline and online gaming opportunities. As in years past with other Call of Duty titles, Advanced Warfare is expected to be a big seller this holiday shopping season.

Sony did not respond to a request for comment.

Update, 12:12 p.m. PT: Adds Activision's statement.