Starting November 5th, the PlayStation Portal will officially support cloud streaming for thousands of PS5 games, and this time, you can play titles directly from your own library.
The PlayStation Portal was a hit when it first launched, but it was somewhat limited, primarily serving as a remote play device that required your PS5 console to be on and connected. Sony changed that last year with a Cloud Streaming beta that let PlayStation Plus Premium members try select games from the service’s catalogue. That opened things up a bit, giving users more freedom to use the PS Portal to play games beyond what was on their PS5.
But something more exciting is coming this week: Premium subscribers can now stream digital PS5 games they actually own, without touching their console at all.
According to a PlayStation blog post by Takuro Fushimi, senior manager of product management at PlayStation, thousands of PS5 games will work with cloud streaming at launch. That list includes major releases such as Astro Bot, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Fortnite, Ghost of Yōtei, Grand Theft Auto V and Resident Evil 4. Hundreds more games from the PlayStation Plus catalogue are also available to stream, including Cyberpunk 2077, God of War Ragnarök and The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
That is not all, with the update bringing more benefits to PlayStation Portal owners. You can play your favourite game while someone else uses the PS5 to watch a movie, or stream a title while a friend plays something different on the console under their own account.
With this update, Sony appears to be positioning the PS Portal as a genuine portable option, since your PS5 can be powered off completely and you’ll still have access to your library from any location with a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
Sony is also giving the PlayStation Portal interface a redesign with this update, adding separate home screens for remote play and cloud streaming, as well as a dedicated search tab. New features include 3D audio support for compatible headphones, a passcode lock for security, and an easier way to check network connection quality. Cloud streaming sessions now support in-game purchases, accessibility options such as screen readers, and game invitations from friends.
From the looks of things, PlayStation Portal owners have plenty to be excited about. With this update available starting today, gamers can dive in and see what it adds to the experience. We had the pleasure of speaking with Takuro Fushimi to gain more insight into what players can expect from the latest PS Portal update, along with additional details about what it brings to the system — well worth a read if you want to learn more about this release.
