Key Takeaways
- PlayStation has released a new cloud streaming update to the PlayStation Portal that finally lets you use the system without having to own a PS5.
- A beta version is being tested in select countries (including the UK and US), and will allow you to stream over 120 PS5 games.
- Unfortunately, the service only allows you to stream PS5 games, with both PS4 and PS3 games currently unavailable. There’s always a catch.
PlayStation has had a spotty past when it comes to handheld devices, and the PlayStation Portal is no exception. It’s a neat little piece of tech on the surface, though it needs to be connected to a PS5 to actually function, acting almost like a glorified Wii U gamepad that you can take wherever you please, provided there’s an internet connection.
It made the PlayStation Portal feel like an addition to an already expensive console, rather than its own unique piece of tech, though that looks set to change with a new update that was released earlier today. As explained by a new post on the PlayStation Blog (thanks VGC), the PlayStation Portal is getting cloud streaming, with a beta for the service being rolled out to select countries, including the United Kingdom and United States.
PlayStation Portal Cloud Streaming Update Lets You Play Games Without A PS5
This cloud streaming service will allow you to play a wide selection of PS5 games, provided that you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber. All of these games are available via the PS Plus Game Catalog, and can be streamed in up to 1080p at 60fps, complete with all the fancy DualSense features that you’d expect if you were playing the games on a regular PS5.
Unfortunately, there is one major drawback. Currently, this service is only letting you play PS5 games specifically, as PS4 and PS3 games are unavailable to stream. We don’t know if PlayStation plans on changing that when the service eventually comes out of beta, so you’re better off just assuming this will just be for PS5 games until we get more information.
Of course, this means that you no longer actually need to get a PS5 to play PS5 games. You can now buy a PlayStation Portal instead, especially if you like your handheld gaming, though you’ll still need a decent internet connection to run games as they would on a console. Even then, this could potentially be a great way to experience some PlayStation games on the cheap.
PlayStation Portal
The PlayStation Portal is a handheld companion to Sony’s PlayStation 5 console. Based around the features of a DualSense controller and Remote Play, it features an eight-inch LCD screen at 1080p resolution capable of 60fps, a headphone jack for wired audio.