
Sony is rolling out a sizeable system update for PS Portal users today (the 9th April, just to avoid any confusion). The goal here is to improve the existing cloud game streaming beta for PS Plus Premium subscribers, adding some welcome functionality across the board.
Here's a quick bullet point list of the additions:
- New sorting system - you can now sort games in your streaming library
- Gameplay capture - you can now use the Portal's Create button to capture screenshots / video of the game you're streaming
- New queueing system - you can now wait in a queue when streaming servers are full, and you'll get a screen that shows estimated wait times
- Pause functionality - you can now pause your streamed game by opening the quick menu (this doesn't apply to multiplayer games)
- Inactivity notifications - you'll now be shown a notification that warns of game closure if you've been inactive for an extended period of time
- User feedback screen - you'll now be shown a feedback menu when you end a streaming session
All of this sounds pretty good for a service that already adds so much value to the handheld. Just to reiterate, the cloud game streaming beta lets you stream PS5 games to your Portal without actually owning a PS5 — you just connect directly to Sony's servers and get playing (but again, you do need to be subscribed to PS Plus Premium).
We've been big fans of this PS Plus cloud streaming beta since its launch last year:
Have you been making use of this beta? Are you happy with these improvements? Get connected in the comments section below.
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 29
It's a really good service, indistinguishable from streaming via the console.
Hope it can be expanded to all or most of my games.
Yes but rarely due to lag. I have pretty good internet too so don’t know what’s going on there. It runs fine when I stream PS5 🤷♂️
This runs better than when connected to my PS5 lol
I am still hoping they add the ability to stream the PS3 games on the service
Been using the cloud streaming for about 4 months now and it's been great so far, no lag at all. I'm hoping they add the ability to play games we own.
@Mikey856 @ZeD Game streaming summed up in just two posts!
As someone who is on the fence about getting one, the first three comments on this article aren't helping me lol
@Strohl @ShogunRok yes it’s inevitable really isn’t it. Don’t let it put you off streaming the PS5 though that works really nicely for me. Odd but maybe it’s the distance it’s got to travel. (I’m not tech savvy)
@Mikey856 Is you PS5 cabled in or running on wifi like the portal? If its cabled it could just be time for a nice new shiny router.
@Ilyn the PS5 is wireless yes but still runs near perfectly I really don’t get why the cloud streaming isn’t as good. Does the signal need to fly to Japan and back? lol
Wait what there is a queue when streaming? I never heard about this again. To be honest I never had Plus Premium...
I use it sometimes, but it can suck if your connection goes down when playing games like Jedi survivor that don’t auto save. With remote play, it is easy to reconnect, because the game is still running on the PS5, but with cloud streaming you lose your progress.
@Mikey856 I think my issue with PS5 streaming is my set up. I have to use power lines or WiFi and both are not great. Where as the cloud streaming is just straight to my router.
PS5 streaming works well but I feel that the quality is a little better via the cloud.
@ZeD okay that’s interesting. Maybe I should get a techy round to see what’s going on. Are you wireless then on the PS5
Expand it to browser and mobile apps. Portal just isn't a good investment. Pay somewhat more and you can get a device with a top of the line snapdragon chip that can perform natively and stream.
PlayStation is holding plus premium features hostage on their own devices.
Only had mine for a couple of weeks but I am really impressed with the streaming, I haven't done it from my PS5 just from the cloud and it works flawlessly so far.
@Mikey856 I upgraded my WiFi router from the one given to me by my provider. That was a game changer.
@tameshiyaku Value is a subjective judgement. I'm more than satisfied with mine. I think the Snapdragon comment refers to using a Steamdeck or similar for PC games. That's not going to access the Premium game library or connect with Remote Play. PS Premium isnt a hostage scenario: with the portal its an integrated gaming experience of software, delivery channel and console hardware, and it works pretty well. Also, a native handheld is progressively a brick - as it can run fewer and fewer new releases that demand more compute. A streaming thin client avoids that obsolescene by the server providing that. As networking improves, so does game streaming.
I wonder if they fixed the trophy notification too
I love my Portal and feel it's so underrated!
@ZeD what did you got for mate? I’m tempted do the same
Cloud streaming is the main way I use the portal now, hopefully they continue to improve it.
@Mikey856 I got the TP Link Archer AX53 router. The coverage around my house is incredible
Well that explains all the comparison articles to the switch 2 this week lol. I was just wondering why there were so many on here. Im VERY impressed by playstation for console, but if im going hand held or portable at all im sticking with the switch.
I wish they would add the ps3 streaming games
I've been loving my PS Portal and have definitely been gaming more this year since I got it and also moved my PS5 to my TV with the Peloton (I cycle and play games). Usually, the cloud streaming works better for me than remote play from the PS5. We finally get a sorting function, been waiting for that.
@liathach everything you said about streaming is correct, but console streaming works on any device really. I didn't mean a bulky pc handheld but a tablet/phone/handheld with an arm processor. They have long battery life and can emulate almost anything up to Nintendo switch and even some pc games. I can stream playstation, but also pc, Luna, Xbox, GeForce now, netflix etc. If the controller breaks I can just get a new telescopic controller, and believe me dualsenses do break and drift.
I do get the appeal of the simplicity of the portal, and I wouldn't want to play astro bot on anything else but a dualsense, but an android based device is just as easy and way more versatile.
Here's hoping Sony add PS3 games. I was sceptical about the Portal, already had a Steam Deck and found Chiaki didn't work for me even with all the tweaks. Got a Portal expecting to send it back but it's really been useful.
Okay yes it got better after getting a dedicated hotspot for it and my PS5 but now it works pretty flawlessly about 95% of the time.
@ZeD thanks for that I shall look it up now 👍
I have a steam deck that does that...
...but it also plays stuff when I have no WiFi.
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