Cloud Streaming on PlayStation Portal Delivers a Massive Library, And Ditches the Console Requirement

Cloud streaming officially launches on PlayStation Portal today, opening the doors for gamers to play nearly 3,000 digital titles straight from the cloud, no PS5 console required. After a year-long beta open to PlayStation Plus Premium members in 30 countries, Sony is pulling back the curtain and inviting everyone with a Portal device to jump in.

This major update means that players can now stream select digital PlayStation 5 games from their own library. You no longer need to rely on Remote Play, which required your home PS5 to be switched on and available. Starting November 5 at 6pm PT (or November 6 at 2am GMT), streaming from the cloud has truly arrived.

This Is More Than Remote Play: Your Library, Cloud Streaming, and a Lot More Games

During the beta, PlayStation Portal only allowed streaming from select sections of PS Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. With this full rollout, the feature jumps from good to game-changing. Sony’s official list boasts 2,793 PlayStation Store games now streamable on Portal, if you already own them in your library.

For PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, the menu is even bigger. Access 196 additional titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, plus 107 games in the retro-packed Classics Catalog. Sony has thrown in 75 free-to-play titles as well, all ready to boot up from the cloud.

The headline here is flexibility. This isn’t just about playing your games away from your console, it breaks the tether to your home PS5. Sony makes it clear: you can now enjoy a game side-by-side with a friend who’s logged into your PS5 under a separate account, or keep playing your favorite title while someone else uses the home console to stream a movie. The cloud handles the gaming, not your hardware.

A tweet from the official PlayStation account spells it out: “PS Plus Premium members can now stream select digital PS5 games in their library, in addition to hundreds of compatible games from the Game Catalog and Classics Catalog.”

The Portal Update: New Home Screen, Smarter Features, and Accessibility Upgrades

This cloud streaming launch comes with a beefy software update for PlayStation Portal. The new home screen is split into three tabs: Remote Play, Cloud Streaming, and Search, making it easier to find exactly what you want to play. No more scrolling mess, just jump straight to your library or check out what’s new in the cloud.

Here’s what else is new in this rollout:

• 3D Audio support for both remote play and cloud streaming—on games that support it, you’ll get richer sound right on the Portal.
• Passcode lock so you can keep your device secure.
• Network status screen to keep tabs on your connection while streaming.
• In-game store purchases are now possible during cloud streaming. If you want to buy DLC or in-game currency mid-session, you’re covered.
• Accessibility upgrades, including a screen reader available during cloud streaming sessions.
• Game invites: Stay in the loop and receive invites even if you’re streaming a game.

All of these features drop today as part of the fully launched cloud streaming experience. If you own a Portal and a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, your game options just exploded. The need for your PS5 to be running in the background? Gone, for a huge chunk of your library. And if you love classics or just want the convenience of switching between streaming tabs, Portal’s new interface has you covered.

Sony’s big bet on cloud gaming just got real, and for PlayStation Portal owners, it’s a whole new world of play.