PlayStation Portal Update: Cloud Streaming Beta Now Live For Select PS5 Games

Rejoice, PlayStation Portal fans—Sony’s handheld is now even more appealing! While it launched as a device solely for streaming PS5 games locally, the recent addition of PS Plus cloud gaming has made it far more versatile. Yes, you can now play games independently over the internet without needing to connect directly to your PS5—a feature that feels like it should’ve been there from the start. The catch? This new capability could make retailers hesitant to slash prices during Black Friday sales, as the device is now an even better value.

Still, I’m holding out hope the PlayStation Portal will join this year’s Black Friday PS5 deals. Priced at $199 on Amazon (or $179.99 for renewed models), it’s now a serious contender in the gaming handheld market, even without discounts. Stock levels, which were tight at launch, have since stabilized, but the added functionality could spike demand again. Portal prices have remained steady all year, though early adopters will remember when it was harder—and pricier—to snag one.

With this cloud gaming update, the PlayStation Portal has become a more attractive buy, capable of competing with other portable cloud gaming devices. Whether or not Black Friday deals materialize, the Portal now offers significantly more bang for your buck, making it a must-watch item this holiday season.

Should you buy a PlayStation Portal for cloud streaming?

Before diving into my hands-on experience streaming PS Plus games on the PlayStation Portal, there are a few crucial points to consider. First, the device is locked into Sony’s ecosystem, meaning it only supports streaming from PS Plus. While understandable—it would be a stretch to expect compatibility with Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now—it does mean you might consider Android-based alternatives like the Razer Edge or Logitech G Cloud for a broader app suite.

So, how does the Portal stack up as a cloud handheld? Overall, I’m quite pleased with the update. To use this feature, you’ll need to subscribe to PS Plus Premium, which adds an extra layer of cost. Additionally, since the feature is still in beta, you’ll need to enable it manually by heading to Settings and toggling the new Cloud Streaming (Beta) option. This action will create a “Stream from the Game Catalogue” bubble, granting access to a vast library of titles.

That said, some frustrations remain. If your PS Plus subscription is inactive, you’ll need to renew it using your phone—something that’s surprisingly inconvenient for a device of this caliber. Unfortunately, there’s no in-handheld subscription management, so keeping your phone nearby is a necessity.

Once set up, you’re free to explore the library, and loading games is impressively quick. However, I hit a snag with Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen, as its emulated PS2 touchpad buttons didn’t register properly. After some trial and error (read: frustrated tapping), I got the game running and was pleased to see smooth 1080p gameplay with no visible lag. My home’s Gigabit internet certainly helped, but as with any cloud gaming service, your mileage may vary depending on your connection.

Switching to modern PS5 games, I tested Demon’s Souls, and while the experience was visually stunning and lag-free, I did encounter the occasional annoyance with the Portal’s user interface. The lack of a search function meant manually scrolling through the catalog, which feels clunky for a premium device.

Still, gameplay held up remarkably well, and I’ll need to sink more hours into testing latency and performance. As it stands, the feature’s beta status leaves room for improvement, but it’s already proving to be a game-changer.

In summary, the PlayStation Portal’s new cloud streaming functionality redeems its $200 price tag, adding significant value and freeing it from its previous PS5 dependency. While I still dream of native PS1 or PS2 game support, the update transforms the Portal into a more versatile device. If you don’t yet own a PS5—or even if you do—it’s easier to recommend picking one up, with or without potential Black Friday discounts on the horizon.

PlayStation Portal | $199.99 at Amazon

With Sony’s recent addition of cloud streaming, the PlayStation Portal now offers more bang for your buck at its MSRP of $199.99. While I’m still hopeful for Black Friday discounts, the handheld’s newfound ability to stream games independently of the PS5 makes it a more appealing purchase. However, you will need a PS Plus Premium subscription to access the cloud games catalogue, meaning there’s an additional ongoing cost. Still, with this update, even gamers without a PS5 can justify picking up the Portal.