Sony has excitingly improved its PlayStation Portal by adding cloud streaming support for PlayStation Plus Premium members. Initially criticised for its limited functionality, the US$200 device could only stream games from your PlayStation 5 via Remote Play. Now, with access to over 120 PS5 titles through cloud streaming, the Portal has become far more useful and appealing for loyal PlayStation fans.
@devindratoks Sony PlayStation Portal cloud streaming hands-on with Spider-Man: Miles Morales #playstation #sony #gaming #engadget ♬ original sound – Devindra Hardawar
Cloud streaming transforms the PlayStation Portal
A year ago, the PlayStation Portal left many players frustrated. Remote Play often suffered from connectivity issues, even with reliable internet setups, making the device unpredictable and impractical. However, Sony’s cloud streaming feature changes everything.
Now, you can quickly launch cloud games directly on the Portal. By tapping the Cloud Play button, you’ll wait 15 to 20 seconds to start the service and another 20 seconds to load a game. This process isn’t drastically slower than booting up your console and launching a title, making the Portal far more convenient.
Games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Control, and Demon’s Souls performed exceptionally well over the cloud during tests. Control ran smoothly at 60 fps in 1080p performance mode, while ray-tracing fidelity mode also worked seamlessly. Whether swinging through Manhattan in Miles Morales or completing side missions, the Portal offered smooth gameplay with minimal latency. Surprisingly, Sony’s cloud service outperformed Xbox Cloud Gaming in terms of clarity and responsiveness.
Limitations remain, but the update is a step forward
Despite the improvements, the PlayStation Portal still has limitations. Cloud streaming is restricted to the 120+ PS5 games on PS Plus Premium. While this includes notable titles like The Last of Us: Part 1 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the library leans heavily towards older games, with some less appealing options. For example, titles like Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures don’t match the excitement of Sony’s flagship offerings.
One significant drawback is that you can’t stream digital games you already own on the Portal. Sony has promised this feature will arrive later, but the Portal is best suited for PS Plus Premium subscribers. A stable internet connection is also essential for a smooth experience, which might limit its portability.
Issues with Remote Play also persist. For instance, connecting to the PS5 Pro via Remote Play took several minutes and required manual intervention to turn on the console. By contrast, the cloud streaming option felt far more reliable and hassle-free.
Cloud gaming: A growing trend in gaming
Sony’s move to enhance the PlayStation Portal comes as cloud gaming is gaining momentum. Microsoft recently announced a significant upgrade that allows users to stream games they own, such as Baldur’s Gate III and Cyberpunk 2077, instead of relying solely on the Xbox Game Pass library.
Although Xbox Cloud streaming shows potential, it must work on fuzzy text, unclear textures, and video artefacts during gameplay. In comparison, Sony’s approach with PS Plus delivers smoother graphics and better overall performance, particularly on the Portal.
For both Sony and Microsoft, cloud gaming represents a major opportunity to adapt to the rise of handheld gaming devices and shifting consumer preferences. If they can address current limitations and improve accessibility, cloud streaming could redefine how players enjoy their favourite games in the future.
