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Sony’s new PlayStation Portal update lets you stream PS5 games from the cloud

The PlayStation Portal resting on a glass coffee table.
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Sony is bringing a big new feature to the PlayStation Portal: cloud streaming. When it first launched, the device was only able to stream games from your PS5 over Wi-Fi. But as part of a new system update that’s rolling out starting later today, you’ll be able to stream select PS5 games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog to your PlayStation Portal.

Sony is launching the feature in beta, and you’ll need to be a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber to take advantage of it. Sony says that to stream at 720p, you’ll need a minimum 7 Mbps connection, while 1080p quality will require a minimum 13 Mbps connection.

Screenshot of the cloud streaming menu in the new PlayStation Portal software update.
Image: Sony
Portal Cloud Streaming Beta

Some PlayStation Plus features won’t be available to start with cloud streaming to the PlayStation Portal, including Game Trials, party voice chat, game invites for select games, 3D audio, and “in-game commerce.” And you won’t be able to stream any PS4 games or PS3 games. Child accounts also won’t be able to use cloud streaming on the Portal.

The beta will be available in the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States

Sony launched cloud streaming on PS5 consoles last year.

As part of the new PlayStation Portal update, there are changes to audio, too, including a lower minimum volume level and the ability to tweak settings of a PlayStation Link device from your Portal’s settings.