The PlayStation Portal is finally fulfilling more of its potential. Sony has significantly expanded the device’s functionality, moving it beyond being a strictly remote-play-only accessory for the PS5.
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The latest update, effective today, allows PS Plus Premium subscribers to stream select digital PS5 games they own directly to the Portal, without needing to connect to their primary console via Remote Play.
This new capability, which requires a PS Plus Premium membership, expands the Portal’s utility considerably. Previously, the device was limited to streaming games from the PS Plus Game Catalog. Now, owners can access supported titles from their personal PS5 digital library, bringing it closer to the “go-anywhere” dedicated handheld experience many gamers desired—provided they have a robust Wi-Fi connection.
Games like Astro Bot, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Ghost of Yotei are among the thousands of supported titles available for direct cloud streaming at launch. While players could always use Remote Play for these titles, the ability to stream them independently untethers the Portal from the PS5’s immediate network environment.
Alongside the major cloud streaming unlock, Sony has introduced several quality-of-life improvements:
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- 3D Audio Support: Both remote play and cloud streams now support 3D audio when using wired headphones or one of Sony’s proprietary PlayStation Link headsets.
- New Home Screen Search: A revamped home screen includes a dedicated search tab for quickly finding cloud-streamable games.
- Security: Users can now set a passcode lock on the device.
- Networking: A new network status screen has been added to the Quick Menu.
- Seamless Purchases: Players can make in-game purchases while streaming over the cloud without leaving the session.
- Quick Join: Friend invitations can now be received and accepted directly from the Quick Menu while cloud streaming.
Sony appears determined to maximize the Portal’s appeal, effectively positioning it as an advanced stopgap until a potential next-generation, native PlayStation handheld is released, reportedly alongside the PS6. The device is now substantially more appealing than it was at launch, offering true flexibility for PS5 owners with the highest-tier subscription.
