Not many devices get to totally reinvent themselves overnight, but that’s precisely what the PlayStation Portal has done. Early Portal was a real mixed bag. It is built well, the LCD screen is big and colorful beyond expectations, and DualSense haptics come close to a proper console controller feel. However, having no storage on board and needing to plug into a PS5 in order to play made it a pricey and impractical proposition. That all changed this week.
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PlayStation Portal Transformed: New Cloud Streaming Update Changes Everything
Sony just revealed it is expanding its PlayStation Now cloud service to allow users to stream games directly from the cloud, without a PS5. With this update, you’ll be able to access a library with over 120 titles from the likes of Ghost of Tsushima, Resident Evil 3 Remake, The Last of Us Part 1 Remaster, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The feature requires the highest PlayStation Plus subscription tier, which costs $18 per month, a far more attractive price than a $500 console plus $70 per game.
The new feature is simple and does a great job of working. When the beta is installed after the firmware update though, it’ll allow the Portal to link directly to Sony’s cloud servers. It essentially turns the device from an accessory that was only good for a narrow scope of applications into another option for gaming. Performance has been quite good, with the Portal offering fluid fps and steady connections that often outperformed the Portal’s much-publicized prior PS5 game-streaming performance, even in close proximity to a console.
However, cloud gaming isn’t exactly a new area—past providers like Google Stadia and xCloud from Xbox have tread here before—the PlayStation Portal beta still proves itself in the saturation of this genre. Of course, there are caveats—PlayStation Plus can be pricey, and its catalog is decidedly a mix of a few standouts and frankly more forgettable offerings—but still. The service also is not as valuable or first-party launch-ready, yet, compared to the Xbox Game Pass.
Despite these limitations, the update showcases bold innovation. In an era where hardware upgrades often arrive as sequels or mid-cycle refreshes, Sony has managed to breathe new life into an existing product without releasing a “Portal 2.” This transformation underscores the potential of the PlayStation Portal as more than a peripheral and reflects a rare instance of true value addition in consumer tech.
FAQs
Does the PlayStation Portal now work without a PS5?
Yes, the latest update allows the Portal to stream games directly from PlayStation Now, no PS5 is required.
Is a subscription needed for the new feature?
Yes, access to cloud streaming requires the highest PlayStation Plus tier, costing $18 per month.
