Sony Commits To Tablet Gaming With PlayStation 3 Controller Support

Sony's Tablet S has received a firmware update allowing users to play games on the system, including downloadable PlayStation 1 titles, with the PS3's DualShock 3 wireless controllers. The update follows a number of moves Sony has made toward unifying game offerings on its portable console, mobile, and smartphone products -- such as the creation of PlayStation Suite, its cross-platform software development framework for Android-powered devices. Sony also recently bought out its mobile joint venture partner Ericsson to bring development of its newly launched XPeria Play gaming platform in-house and "rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices". The company has connected its online gaming services for its consoles, too, making PlayStation Network available on the PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS Vita. It stands to reason that Sony's future hardware and software initiatives will continue this cross-platform, cross-device approach. Microsoft has made similar moves with its platforms, making its Metro user interface the base design of Windows Phone, Windows 8, and the Xbox 360 dashboard. Its Xbox Live initiative also brings Xbox Live to Windows Phone, Zune, and Windows desktop operating systems. Tablet S's Japanese firmware update enables users to forego its touchscreen-based controls and use the PS3's wireless controller instead. Sony's second tablet (Tablet S being the first from the company), the dual-screen Tablet P, has not yet received a similar update.