Nearly two years since its launch, the PlayStation Portal remote player has finally stepped into the cloud. As of November 5, 2025, Sony has released cloud streaming for the handheld, marking a transformative moment for a gadget that initially felt incomplete. While the Portal initially relied on Remote Play connectivity to PS5 consoles only, this update delivers the autonomy that many early adopters have been waiting for.
Cloud gaming will allow PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers to play more than 2,800 games from anywhere using a Windows-based computer, without needing to connect a console. The list of blockbuster titles coming includes Ghost of Yōtei, Astro Bot, Grand Theft Auto V, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, in addition to the full PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog, including noted titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and God of War Ragnarök.
The timing by Sony is quite strategic here. While Nintendo gets ready for the launch of Switch 2, Sony has shown that Portal is more than a niche accessory. It’s a truly competitive handheld gaming device in its own right. The ability to stream personal digital libraries means players can maintain their gaming momentum beyond the living room, whether at hotels, cafes, or friends’ homes.
Beyond cloud streaming, Sony has made meaningful quality-of-life improvements to enhance the experience. The updated home screen now has dedicated tabs for Remote Play, Cloud Streaming, and Search functions. Other new features include 3D Audio support on compatible audio devices, passcode protection, the ability to check network status, and the sending of game invites for multiplayer sessions. In-game purchases and accessibility features like screen readers have now been added to cloud streaming sessions.
But, it’s still gated by a premium subscription: PlayStation Plus Premium at $17.99 monthly or $159.99 annually, which makes cloud gaming a premium feature and less accessible than the competitors.
The PlayStation Portal has grown up. What once felt like a proof-of-concept device now offers real flexibility to the committed PlayStation player, making it far more compelling as a portable gaming device.