PlayStation Portal system update launches today with cloud streaming beta and audio refinements

Sony Interactive Entertainment will release a new system update for PlayStation Portal later today, which introduces cloud streaming in beta for select PlayStation 5 games available via PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, as well as audio refinements, the company announced.

Get the details below.

Audio Refinements

Today we’re pleased to announce a new system software update for PlayStation Portal that will begin releasing starting later today (Europe release begins Wednesday), which will introduce refinements in the audio experience, including:

• Speaker audio output adjustment to make the volume lower when the audio level is set to minimum
• You will now be able to adjust settings of your PlayStation Link device from the PlayStation Portal Settings menu, allowing you to optimize the volume and sidetone volume.

Features Available During the Beta

This update will also include a beta version of a new feature that many fans have been asking for—support for cloud streaming on PlayStation Portal. When the update is live, PlayStation Plus Premium members will be able to participate in a beta for cloud streaming on PlayStation Portal, allowing select PlayStation 5 games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog* to be streamed directly from our servers, even without a PlayStation 5 console.

Since Cloud Streaming (Beta) on PlayStation Portal is still an experimental offering, the features available during the beta period may change over time and may not reflect the final experience.

Let’s take a deeper look at what you can expect in this beta:

• Stream select PlayStation 5 games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog
  • Over 120 PlayStation 5 games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, including DAVE THE DIVER, Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Monster Hunter Rise, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, will be accessible on PlayStation Portal via cloud streaming.
• Streaming up to 1080p / 60 frames per second.
• DualSense wireless controller features, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, speakers, touchpad (emulated on the touch screen for PlayStation Portal), and motion sensor.
• PlayStation Plus Cloud storage
  • Save data and game progress can be stored up to 100GB and will be automatically synced with your PlayStation 5 console, making it easy to switch seamlessly between local and streaming gameplay, and between multiple devices.

Cloud Streaming (Beta) for PlayStation Portal will be available through the PlayStation Plus Premium plan, which is offered in the following locations:

• 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.

How to Access Cloud Streaming (Beta)

To access the beta, you will need the following:

• PlayStation Portal remote player.
• An account for PlayStation Network.
• An active PlayStation Plus Premium membership.
• Access to broadband internet Wi-Fi.
• To establish a cloud streaming session: requires minimum 5 MB per second of upload and download speeds.
  • To stream at 720p: requires minimum 7 MB per second.
  • To stream at 1080p: requires minimum 13 MB per second.

Once the beta is available, you can access the beta by updating your PlayStation Portal to the latest system software and completing the following steps:

1. Open “Quick Menu” and access “Settings” on your PlayStation Portal.
2. Select the “Cloud Streaming (Beta)” button
3. Switch the Cloud Streaming (Beta) toggle on (this will be off by default).

After you’ve enabled Cloud Streaming (Beta) in the settings menu, you should see a new option on the Home screen of your PlayStation Portal that allows you to access games via cloud streaming. The beta option can be turned off any time, and your Home screen will revert back to the standard version once the option is turned off.

Features Not Included in the Beta

As we are in the beginning stages of publicly testing cloud streaming on PlayStation Portal, some features will not be available, such as Game Trials, streaming games purchased on PlayStation Store, system features such as Party voice chat and game invites for select games, Create button, 3D audio, and in-game commerce.

Additionally, the streaming games playable on PlayStation Portal are limited to PlayStation 5 games, and PlayStation 4 games/PS3 games are not supported.