Though second screen capability is starting to come into its own for the Xbox One and PS4, having been introduced with the Wii U, Epic Games vice-president Mark Rein still feels that we’re yet its true value, though it could be big one day.

In conversation with the [a] List Daily, Rein stated that, “I think we’ve yet to see the real value of the second screen idea, if you’re talking about [Xbox] SmartGlass and companion apps and things like that. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t be big one day. I don’t really know what it is yet.”

“Where it fits into gaming, I don’t know. I’m not sold on picking up my tablet to choose my play and then putting it back down and picking up my controller. It’s kind of a wonky way to choose to play, so I don’t know if that’s how it’s going to go or not. Developers should try everything and have lots of fun with it, and sooner or later there will be a killer app for that sort of thing, too.”

As of now, functions of second screen apps include being able to spectate on some one’s game, accessing certain in-game functions (calling an air-strike in Dead Rising 3, for example) and small mini-games within the main game.

Revamped in tme for the launch of the PlayStation 4 in Europe, the PlayStation App adds a multitude of functionality for those with smartphones and tablets. You can use the app to access PSN and view your profile, view the PlayStation Store, check what your friends are up to and what’s currently new, view footage and spectate on friends’ games and much more. It also adds second screen functionality with some games and lets you control your console using your smartphone.

The PlayStation 4 is launching in Europe on November 29th, which will round out the release of next-gen consoles across all Western countries. Thus far, it’s been commercially successful, despite criticisms of a weak launch line-up and some units affected by hardware issues.

The PlayStation App has tons of functions when used in conjunction with the console and on its own. You can view your own PSN profile, access and compare Trophies with friends, send messages and purchase content on the PlayStation Store. The app will also act as a second screen for certain games and allow you to spectate on other’s gameplay when they are live-streaming. You can post comments and footage of your own as well. Did we mention being able to use your smartphone or tablet to control the PS4 using the App?

The PlayStation 4 will launch in North America on November 15th and in Europe on November 29th.

The PS4 PlayStation App for smartphones and tablets, that, among other things, lets you manage downloads and trigger them remotely, along with messaging friends, will also be coming to the PlayStation Vita in its next firmware update, Sony has revealed on its Twitter.

Yoshida’s wording suggests that the Vita won’t get the same app as other devices, and that it will be specially optimized for the device (which makes sense, considering the Vita is a part of the PlayStation ecosystem).

Assuming the next PS Vita firmware update goes live soon, Sony will have announced, developed, and then released the PS4 companion app for its handheld in a fraction of the time that it has taken Nintendo to get Miiverse out for the 3DS (or even smartphones and tablets, for that matter).

What kind of functionality this PS4 link app will have unique to the Vita remains to be seen, but we’ll keep you posted.

How does the app look, and will you be using it with your PlayStation 4 as much as, say, Xbox 360 and soon Xbox One users will use SmartGlass? Of course, it’ll be interesting to see how it integrates with the console if it’s not aimed at games.