Sony has released a PlayStation Portal update that introduces cloud streaming to the device, allowing you to stream over 100 PS5 games to your Portal, but there's a catch, as you might expect.
As outlined in a new PlayStation Blog post, cloud streaming will only be available for PlayStation Plus Premium members. That's right; you won't even be able to take advantage of this feature if you're signed up to PlayStation Plus Extra.
If you do happen to be a Premium member, however, you'll gain access to cloud streaming for "over 120 PS5 games from the PS Plus Game Catalog", including the likes of Dave the Diver, Monster Hunter Rise, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, among many others.
Games will stream at up to 1080p resolution and 60fps on the PlayStation Portal, and you'll also be able to access DualSense features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as the touchpad, which will be emulated via the Portal's touchscreen.
Naturally, cloud storage will also be accessible on the Portal, so you'll be able to access any save files you've got on the cloud for the PS5 games the Portal supports.
In order to access this update, you'll need a PS Plus Premium membership, as well as access to the internet and "minimum 5Mbps of upload and download speeds". That number increases to 7Mbps for 720p and 13Mbps for 1080p.
Unfortunately, the Portal won't support streaming PS4 or PS3 games, and it also won't support features like party voice chat, 3D audio, or Game Trials.
If you're not familiar with the PlayStation Portal, it's a rather curious handheld device that is designed to be used with a PS5 console.
Unlike traditional handhelds, the Portal doesn't support games of its own; rather, it streams games from a linked PS5, allowing you to enjoy PS5 games without needing to hook the console up to your TV (although you will need to do that to complete the initial setup).
As such, it's not a true successor to the likes of the PSP or the ill-fated PS Vita, although this latest update arguably puts the Portal one step closer to being the device it always should have been. The new update started rolling out yesterday, so if it hasn't been released where you live yet, it should arrive soon.
