Sony is enhancing the PlayStation Portal experience with a new update for users participating in its Cloud Streaming Beta. This update, set to roll out later today, brings several improvements to the remote play system's cloud capabilities.
A key feature of this update is the ability to sort games within the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Players can now organize their games by Name, Release Date, or by which titles were most recently added to PlayStation Plus, making it easier to navigate and choose what to play.
Another exciting addition is the option to capture gameplay during a Cloud Streaming session. Users can access the familiar create menu to take screenshots or record video clips. According to the PlayStation blog, video clips can be recorded at up to 1920x1080 resolution and up to three minutes in length.
Gameplay will now pause under specific conditions, such as when you open the PS Portal quick menu, enter rest mode using the power button, or if a system error message appears. However, note that the rest mode pause lasts only 15 seconds; if the Portal remains in rest mode longer, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. Additionally, pausing is not supported in online multiplayer games.Other enhancements include a queue system for when the streaming server reaches capacity, notifications for user inactivity, and tools for providing feedback. Sony has committed to continually refining and expanding the feature set based on user input.
The Cloud Streaming Beta is exclusively available to PlayStation Plus Premium members, allowing them to stream select PS5 games from the PS Plus Catalog directly on the PS Portal. Last year's update transformed the Portal into a more robust standalone cloud streaming device, and Sony appears dedicated to further developing this functionality.
As cloud streaming becomes increasingly integral to the gaming landscape, it will be fascinating to observe how Sony's service evolves alongside the PlayStation Portal. At the very least, the ability to capture numerous screenshots during streaming sessions adds a delightful touch to the user experience.
