The Playroom (2013 video game)

The Playroom is a free augmented reality (AR) game developed by SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. Pre-installed on every console upon release, it served primarily as a demonstration of the PlayStation Camera and the capabilities of the DualShock 4 controller.

The core gameplay revolves around interacting with a group of small AR robots called Asobi, who appear to live inside the controller and can be seen on the television screen using the PlayStation Camera. Players can interact with the Asobi in a variety of ways, such as blowing on the DualShock 4's touchpad to create wind, throwing things at the screen, or creating toys for the robots to play with via the PlayStation App on mobile devices.

Beyond the Asobi, The Playroom included other mini-games and features showcasing the console's technology. Air Hockey allowed two players to compete using the DualShock 4's light bar to control their paddles. AR Bots let players launch virtual robots from their controllers onto the screen. Finally, "My Alien Buddy" allowed users to draw and animate an alien creature using the PlayStation App, then interact with it within the game.

The Playroom was intended to be a fun and accessible introduction to the PlayStation 4's new features and technologies, particularly augmented reality, and was not designed as a full retail game. Its successor, The Playroom VR, offered a more substantial virtual reality experience.