Sony is releasing a big new update for Portal PSit refreshes the user interface on the home screen while adding a lot of new features including cloud streaming. Handheld PlayStation continues to grow and add new features that better support how players use the portal.
While it's not quite a standalone handheld gaming device like the Steam Deck or even the Nintendo Switch 2, Sony's PlayStation Portal is proving to be more than just a simple PS5 accessory. As PS Portal approaches its second anniversary, Sony has continued to improve and expand the available features it offers, with the latest update being one of its biggest and most anticipated yet.
PlayStation Portal update adds cloud streaming
The latest update for PS Portal is a big one for the handheld as it finally introduces cloud streaming for PlayStation Plus Premium members. Sony says thousands of games already support the feature, and hundreds more are compatible from the PlayStation Plus and Classics catalog. The highly-requested PS Portal feature was recently rumored, but now that it's officially live, players can now stream games while another person is using their PS5, or enjoy some gaming time on the go with high-speed Wi-Fi.
While Cloud Streaming may be the headline news for this patch, this update even works for PS Portal by adding more new features and UI improvements. Specifically, the update also introduces a redesigned home screen with three new tabs for Remote Play, Cloud Streaming, and Search, the latter of which allows players to browse their game library, including available streamable games for PlayStation Plus.
Sony has also added support for 3D audio with supported games during Remote Play and Cloud Streaming via wired headphones or PlayStation Link wireless audio. Players can also better protect their PS Portal by adding a passcode lock in Settings. Finally, there is a network status screen to help players check their connection quality.
The PS Portal update also added new features related to cloud streaming, including the In-Game Store, which allows players to make purchases without leaving their game sessions. There are new accessibility options such as a screen reader and adjustable text size. Finally, players can also send invites and join multiplayer sessions directly from the Quick Menu.
- Playback time
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6-8 hours
- Mark
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PlayStation
- Weight
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529 g
- Headset compatibility
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3.5mm, PlayStation Link
- Display
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8 inch LCD
- Output resolution
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1080p
Although not exactly a successor to the PSP, PlayStation Portal solves the age-old problem of sharing a single TV in the home. This remote playback device allows users to stream everything happening on their PlayStation 5 directly to the large 8-inch 1080p LCD screen. What makes the PlayStation Portal unique is that it is packed with all the advanced technologies of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. One downside is that it doesn't have Bluetooth support for wireless audio, but it does work with PlayStation Pulse headphones and earphones, and it also has a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio.
Source: Sony; PS blog
