In the wake of Handhelds such as the Nintendo Switch 2, and with other handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally joining the market, Sony is now attempting to add more functionality to the PlayStation Portal, their handheld streaming device. To that effect, the platform is adding more cloud streaming capability, which will allow players to choose from thousands of games they can stream without the requirement of being connected to a PlayStation 5 System. The handheld had previously allowed for a curated PlayStation Plus catalog to be streamed without the need for the console itself, but this is a far more expanded list.
While requiring users to have a PlayStation Plus Premium Membership (the highest of the three tiers), players will be able to choose from a large list of games to stream from that they may already own. Starting today, titles applicable to this include Grand Theft Auto 5, Borderlands 4, as well as the newly released PlayStation exclusive, Ghost of Yōtei. This is on top of the existing functionality to continue streaming from the PlayStation Plus and PlayStation classics catalog, which includes titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and God of War Ragnarök. There is a long list of titles, stretching over 2,800 games, that are included for streaming.
In fairness, this isn’t a brand new concept, with cloud streaming having been available to PlayStation Portal users in a beta since late last year. This update, however, does expand how the PlayStation Portal could be applicable and, therefore, use it, beyond the extremely limited use that tethered it as a $200 handheld that required a $500 console. It also showcases the continued effort to update the device based on current market shifts, which could be beneficial to gamers, especially if they already prefer playing digitally.
On a personal level, the PlayStation Portal has become a valued part of my gaming routine as somebody who plays primarily on PlayStation. Several reviews I performed in recent memory even required me to remind myself to play them on TV, so I wasn’t limited in identifying the games as handhelds, such as my recent review of Ninja Gaiden 4, which played great on the handheld device. Gaming this way also helped me catch up on both Lego Masters and Below Deck, though that is a story for a different time.
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