Sony is rolling out an exciting new update for PlayStation Portal users participating in its Cloud Streaming Beta. This update, which will be available later today, brings several user experience and functionality enhancements to the remote play system's cloud capabilities.
One of the standout features 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. This makes navigating the catalog much more user-friendly and efficient.
Another significant addition is the ability to capture gameplay during a Cloud Streaming session. Users can utilize the familiar create menu options to take screenshots or record video clips. According to the PlayStation blog, video clips can be recorded at up to 1920x1080 resolution and can last up to three minutes, providing ample opportunity to capture and share memorable moments.
Additionally, gameplay will now pause automatically when you open the PS Portal quick menu, enter rest mode using the power button, or if a system error message appears. However, the rest mode pause is limited to 15 seconds; if the Portal remains in rest mode beyond this time, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. It's worth noting that this pause feature is not supported during online multiplayer sessions.Other enhancements include a queue system for when the streaming server reaches capacity, notifications for inactivity, and new user feedback tools. Sony has expressed its commitment to continually improving the service based on user feedback.
The Cloud Streaming Beta is exclusively available to PlayStation Plus Premium members, enabling 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 standalone cloud streaming device, and it appears that Sony is dedicated to further refining this feature.
As cloud streaming becomes increasingly integral to the modern gaming landscape, it will be fascinating to see how Sony's offerings develop in conjunction with the PlayStation Portal. The ability to easily capture and share dozens of screenshots while streaming to your Portal is a welcome addition for gamers looking to document their experiences.
