PlayStation Portal Receives Major Cloud Gaming Upgrade

It’s been a year since PlayStation first introduced their handheld gaming device, and now they’ve shared some exciting news about an update for the PS Portal.

In a blog post this Wednesday, they unveiled a major system software update for this remote player, which originally rolled out in November 2023. This update is now ready for all users to download and enjoy, bringing a beta version of cloud streaming support to the mix. Essentially, if you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium member, you’ll gain access to PS5 games from the catalog on your Portal device without needing to own a PS5 or carry your console around. However, it’s worth mentioning that this doesn’t extend to PS4 and PS3 games.

Streaming games on the PS Portal can reach impressive visuals, offering up to 1080p at 60 frames per second. The device also features haptic feedback through its DualSense wireless controllers positioned on either side of the LCD screen. Thanks to the cloud beta, you can save your game progress with PlayStation Plus Cloud storage, which offers up to 100GB. If you also have a PS5, your saves will sync seamlessly.

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Last year, Mashable took a close look at the PS Portal, with journalist Alex Perry particularly focusing on the device’s latency issues. In his review, Perry pointed out: “A small, nearly unnoticeable delay exists between pressing a button and seeing the action on-screen. Fortunately, for many games, this doesn’t pose a problem.”

Perry also highlighted, “While latency isn’t a huge issue, visual hiccups are more noticeable. Games that run smoothly at 60 fps on a PS5 might not maintain that on the Portal consistently. I observed slight dips, likely due to my WiFi connection rather than game performance. Though for many games this isn’t a big deal, those dips might affect how shooters and racing games perform.”

In their blog post, Hiromi Wakai, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s VP of product management, mentioned that they were “just beginning to publicly test cloud streaming on PS Portal.” Wakai also outlined that “some features won’t be available yet, like Game Trials, streaming games bought on the PS Store, certain system features like Party voice chat and game invites for select games, Create button, 3D audio, and in-game purchases.”

This update also brings several audio enhancements, including a new speaker audio output adjustment that lets you fine-tune the volume below the usual minimum level. Additionally, users can now tweak settings for PlayStation Link USB devices directly from the Portal settings.

This latest update is a part of PlayStation’s ongoing commitment to improving the gaming experience for its users, keeping the excitement alive for all gaming enthusiasts out there.