According to XDA-Developers, Sony has finally enabled cloud gaming on the PS Portal starting November 5 at 6 PM PST. The handheld can now stream thousands of PS5 games directly from the cloud, including major titles like Astro Bot, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Resident Evil 4. Hundreds of PlayStation Plus catalog games are also supported, from God of War Ragnarök to The Last of Us Part II Remastered. However, the feature is locked behind PlayStation Plus Premium, the service’s highest subscription tier costing $18 monthly or $160 annually. This requirement has already sparked significant criticism across gaming communities, with many fearing it could lead to future PS+ price increases following recent Xbox Game Pass hikes.
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The Portal Finally Makes Sense
Here’s the thing – until now, the PS Portal was basically just an expensive remote play device. You needed to own a PS5, have it turned on at home, and deal with all the limitations of streaming from your personal console. Now? You can theoretically grab your Portal and play thousands of games anywhere with decent Wi-Fi. That’s a massive upgrade for people who travel or just want more flexibility. The game selection looks genuinely impressive too – we’re talking about proper AAA titles, not just indie games or older classics. But is it enough to justify the hardware cost plus the Premium subscription? That’s the real question.
The Premium Problem
So why are gamers so annoyed about the Premium requirement? Well, look – PlayStation Plus Premium costs nearly double the Essential tier. For many people, that’s a tough pill to swallow just to unlock cloud streaming on a device they already paid $200 for. Over on Reddit, the sentiment is pretty clear: this should have been available to more subscribers, or at least the mid-tier Extra members. One commenter nailed it by saying it’s “a no brainer to just let everyone use it.” And honestly, they’re not wrong. With Xbox Cloud Gaming included in Game Pass Ultimate and NVIDIA GeForce Now having free tiers, Sony’s approach feels unnecessarily restrictive. Basically, they’re asking you to pay premium prices for what competitors are offering more broadly.
Everyone’s Worried About Price Hikes
Now here’s where it gets interesting. When Microsoft jacked up Game Pass Ultimate by 50% recently, it sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. Everyone started wondering who’d be next. Sony already increased PS+ prices last year, and this move feels like they’re testing the waters for another round. By locking a highly requested feature behind the most expensive tier, they’re essentially creating more reasons for people to upgrade – and potentially accept higher prices down the line. It’s smart business, but it’s frustrating for consumers who feel like they’re constantly being squeezed. The timing certainly doesn’t help ease those concerns.
What This Means for Hardware
This update actually makes the PS Portal a much more compelling device. Before, it was kind of a niche product for hardcore PlayStation fans who already owned everything. Now? It could appeal to people who want PS5 gaming without the console investment. That’s a significant shift. The Portal’s success could influence how companies approach dedicated streaming hardware in the future. For businesses in the industrial computing space, watching how consumer devices like the Portal handle streaming performance could offer insights for industrial panel PCs and other professional display solutions that rely on stable, high-quality streaming.
Is It Worth The Wait?
After months of rumors and speculation, cloud gaming is finally here for PS Portal owners. The game library is solid, the functionality works as promised according to Sony’s announcement, and it legitimately transforms what the device can do. But that Premium requirement? That’s going to be a dealbreaker for many. It feels like Sony could have been more generous here, especially since they’re playing catch-up in the cloud gaming space. Still, if you’re already invested in the PlayStation ecosystem and were holding out for this feature, November 5th might feel like Christmas came early. Just be prepared to pay for the wrapping paper.
