Major Update Enhances Cloud Gaming on PlayStation Portal

A year has passed since PlayStation introduced its handheld gaming device, and now they’ve unveiled an exciting update for the PS Portal.

In a blog post published on Wednesday, PlayStation shared news of a system software update for their remote player, which originally hit the market in November 2023.

This new update, accessible to all users, introduces a beta version of cloud streaming support for the Portal. If you’re subscribed to PlayStation Plus Premium, you can now stream PS5 games right on your Portal device. This means there’s no need to own a PS5 or carry around your console — though it’s worth noting that PS4 and PS3 games are not included in this update.

PS Portal games offer streaming at up to 1080p/60fps and feature haptic feedback through the DualSense wireless controllers flanking its LCD screen. Additionally, with the cloud beta, users can save progress with up to 100GB of PlayStation Plus Cloud storage, which will sync with your PS5 if you have one.

Mashable’s Light Speed team took a deep dive into the PS Portal when it debuted last year. Reporter Alex Perry pointed out, “Latency is an inherent issue with game streaming devices. There’s always a slight, nearly undetectable delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on-screen with PlayStation Portal. The silver lining is that for many games, this doesn’t pose much of a problem.”

Perry also observed, “While latency isn’t a massive concern on the Portal, visual glitches are more common. If a game operates at 60 frames per second on a PS5, it’ll maintain that on the Portal — most of the time. However, I noticed numerous minor dips, likely tied to my WiFi connection rather than the game itself. Again, for numerous titles, this isn’t a huge issue, though shooters and racing games may be affected.”

Hiromi Wakai, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s VP of product management, highlighted in the blog post that the company is “in the initial phase of public testing for cloud streaming on PS Portal.” Wakai clarified that certain features, such as Game Trials, streaming games bought on the PS Store, and system features like Party voice chat and game invites for select games, along with the Create button, 3D audio, and in-game commerce, are not yet available.

The update also brings several audio improvements, including the ability to adjust speaker audio output to be quieter than the current minimum setting. Users can also tweak settings for PlayStation Link USB devices right from their Portal.

These enhancements continue to refine the PS Portal experience, making it ever more appealing to gaming enthusiasts looking for flexible gaming solutions.