Article Key Points
Starting on November 13, PlayStation users will lose Twitter integration, preventing them from posting new content and accessing previously uploaded clips and screenshots.
PS5 users can continue using the PS app to upload and share content, whereas PS4 users have the option to utilize the SHAREfactory app or transfer their content to a USB drive. The elimination of Twitter integration received a lackluster response on social media, as certain users highlighted the workaround provided by the PlayStation App.
Starting from November 13, PlayStation users will no longer have access to the consoles' Twitter integration. This means they will be unable to post new content directly from their consoles or access clips, screenshots, and trophy notifications that have already been uploaded to the service. However, Sony has clarified that PS5 users will still be able to use the PS app to upload and share content, while PS4 users can do the same via the SHAREfactory app.
This decision by PlayStation comes almost seven months after Xbox eliminated Twitter integration. The reason behind this change was Twitter's API modifications made by Elon Musk. These alterations would require Sony and Microsoft, along with other major companies, to pay approximately $42,000 each month to access Twitter API functionality, which allowed console users to easily share their game clips and screenshots. It is worth noting that the response to Twitter's API access change has been predominantly negative.
Starting from the fragment "As of November 13, PS4 and PS5 users will be unable to upload their videos and screenshots directly from their consoles to Twitter," the revised content is as follows:
From November 13 onwards, PS4 and PS5 users will no longer have the ability to directly upload their videos and screenshots to Twitter from their consoles. However, Sony has provided alternative methods for users to upload their clips to the platform. PlayStation has stated that PS5 users can upload their clips, screenshots, and trophies to the cloud, which can then be accessed through the PlayStation mobile app. By using their smartphones, users can download the content from the PS app onto their devices and subsequently upload it to Twitter. The cloud storage for clips and screenshots has a maximum retention period of 14 days, and a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required.
To upload their content to the cloud, users can either manually upload it through the PS5's Media Gallery or enable the auto-upload feature if the console is in sleep mode and connected to the internet. However, it's important to note that content can only be uploaded to the cloud if the resolution is set to 1080p and if the video is three minutes or less in duration. On the other hand, PS4 users have the option to utilize the SHAREfactory app or transfer their content to a connected USB drive for future use on other devices. The removal of Twitter integration has received a lukewarm response on social media, particularly with Black Friday approaching and rumored PS5 bundles on the horizon. Some users have highlighted the PlayStation App workaround as a contributing factor to this reaction.
With PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5) Twitter integration no longer available, the Nintendo Switch remains the sole current console to offer this feature. It remains to be seen whether this situation will change in the future.
Brand SonyOriginal Release Date November 12, 2020
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan, I am disappointed to hear that the Twitter integration feature on PS4 and PS5 consoles will be discontinued on November 13th. This feature allowed gamers to easily share their gaming moments with friends and followers on Twitter, and its removal will undoubtedly be a loss for the PlayStation community.
While I understand that Twitter's recent API modifications may have made this integration more costly for Sony to maintain, I believe that the value it provided to users was worth the investment. Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, and its integration with PlayStation consoles made it easy for gamers to share their experiences with a wide audience.
I hope that Sony will reconsider this decision and find a way to bring Twitter integration back to PlayStation consoles in the future. In the meantime, I will be looking for alternative ways to share my gaming moments with my friends and followers.