According to Polygon, Sony’s PlayStation Portal handheld now fully supports Cloud Streaming, letting owners play games like Astro Bot, Fortnite, and Grand Theft Auto 5 directly from Sony’s servers without connecting to a PlayStation 5. The cloud streaming feature, which has been in beta since November 2024, requires a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription costing $159.99 per year or $17.99 monthly. This gives access to hundreds of compatible games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog including Cyberpunk 2077, God of War Ragnarök, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. Wednesday’s update also includes a redesigned user interface, 3D audio support, and network status screens. The PlayStation Portal itself costs $199.99 and comes in Midnight Black and white colors.
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This changes everything for Portal owners
Here’s the thing: the PlayStation Portal was always a bit of a niche product when it launched in 2023. You needed a PS5, a solid internet connection, and you were basically just streaming from your own console. Now? It’s a completely different device. Being able to play directly from Sony’s servers means you’re not tying up your PS5 at home. Someone can be watching Netflix on your console while you’re playing God of War Ragnarök on your Portal elsewhere. That’s huge.
And let’s talk about that PS Plus Premium requirement. At $159.99 per year, it’s not cheap. But suddenly that subscription fee feels a lot more justified when you can access hundreds of games directly on your handheld. It’s basically Sony’s answer to Xbox Cloud Gaming, but specifically tailored for their dedicated handheld device. The value proposition just got way stronger.
What this actually means for you
So what can you actually do now? According to Sony’s official announcement, you can browse and purchase through in-game stores, receive game invitations, and access new accessibility options all through cloud streaming. No more needing your PS5 to be on and connected. That’s the real game-changer here.
But here’s my question: does this make the $199.99 Portal worth it now? Honestly, probably. Before this update, you were buying a very expensive remote play device. Now you’re getting what feels like a proper cloud gaming handheld. It’s still not a standalone device—you need that expensive PS Plus subscription—but the flexibility is dramatically improved. You can check out the full list of compatible games on PlayStation’s website to see if your favorites made the cut.
This move feels like Sony finally understanding what people actually want from cloud gaming. They’re not trying to replace your console, but they’re giving you more ways to play your games. And in a world where everyone’s competing for your gaming time, that flexibility might be exactly what they need to stay relevant.
