Sony tests cloud streaming for PS5 games

Sony has announced that it is testing cloud streaming for PS5 games, which will be included in the PlayStation Plus Premium subscription. This new feature will enable users to play PS5 games without downloading them to their console, and stream them to other devices such as PCs, Macs, mobile phones.

What games are supported?

According to Sony, the cloud streaming feature will support PS5 games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue and Game Trials, as well as digital PS5 titles that users own. However, Sony did not specify which games are currently available for cloud streaming, or when the feature will launch officially.

Sony said that it is in the early stages of testing cloud streaming for PS5 games, and that it will share more details and a launch time frame when it is ready. The company also said that it aims to make cloud streaming an additional benefit for Premium members, who already enjoy access to a library of PS4, PS3, and PS2 games via cloud streaming.

How does it work?

Cloud streaming for PS5 games will work similarly to how cloud streaming for PS4, PS3, and PS2 games works on PlayStation Plus Premium. Users will be able to browse and select games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog or, during the testing period, supported titles from their own digital library on their PS5 console, and then choose to stream them from the cloud instead of downloading them.

Users will also be able to stream PS5 games to other devices using the PlayStation Remote Play app, which is available on PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices. If browser support is added later, rather than requiring the Remote Play app, we could potentially see the possibility of streaming PS5 games to your Xbox using the Edge browser. Users will need a stable internet connection and a compatible controller to stream PS5 games from the cloud.

What does it mean for PlayStation fans?

Cloud streaming for PS5 games could be a game-changer for PlayStation fans, as it would allow them to enjoy their favourite games without worrying about storage space or download times on their console. It would also enable them to play PS5 games on other devices when they are away from their console or share their games with friends and family.

However, there are still many questions and challenges that Sony needs to address before launching cloud streaming for PS5 games. For instance, how will the quality and performance of PS5 games be affected by cloud streaming? How will Sony ensure that its cloud gaming service is reliable and secure? How will Sony differentiate its cloud gaming offering from other competitors, such as GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Luna?

Given that Google's on game streaming service shuttered after only a few years, whether Sony can deliver on its promise of cloud streaming for PS5 games remains to be seen, but it is clear that the company is not ignoring the potential of cloud gaming.