Sony has pushed a major software update to the PlayStation Portal that lets the handheld stream select digital PS5 games directly from the cloud — no PS5 required — and adds a redesigned interface plus a suite of new features. The rollout, which PlayStation says expands cloud streaming on Portal for PlayStation Plus Premium members, arrives beginning November 5–6, 2025.
What changed: cloud streaming and a new home screen
At the heart of the update is Cloud Streaming for PS5 games in your digital library. PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can now launch thousands of PS5 titles from the cloud on a Portal without connecting to or turning on a home PS5. PlayStation's announcement lists a variety of blockbusters and catalog entries available at launch, including Astro Bot, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Fortnite, Ghost of Yōtei, Grand Theft Auto V and Resident Evil 4 — with hundreds more available from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog such as Cyberpunk 2077, God of War Ragnarök, Hogwarts Legacy and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. For full details PlayStation published an official list on the PlayStation Blog.
The Portal's home screen has been redesigned into three swipeable tabs: Remote Play (connect to your own PS5), Cloud Streaming (stream from Sony's servers) and Search. The change gives cloud-streamable games a dedicated place on the device and makes it easier to find titles you can play instantly.
New features that affect day-to-day play
The update bundles several quality-of-life and accessibility improvements for both Remote Play and Cloud Streaming sessions:
- 3D Audio support when using compatible wired headphones or PlayStation Link wireless audio devices (Pulse Explore earbuds, Pulse Elite headset).
- In-game store purchases while streaming, so you can buy add-ons and currencies without leaving a session.
- Accessibility options for Cloud Streaming such as screen reader and adjustable text size (applies to select screens).
- Game invitations and Quick menu join to accept multiplayer invites directly during Cloud Streaming.
- Passcode lock to protect the device (Settings > System > Passcode).
- A new network status screen to check connection quality during streaming (Quick menu > Troubleshoot > Show Network Status).
- Cloud Streaming of your library requires a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription and is available only to adult accounts where the tier is offered. PlayStation warns entitlements and availability will vary by game, region and time.
- Sony recommends a high-speed Wi‑Fi connection (the Portal requires broadband for Remote Play and Cloud Streaming and suggests at least 15 Mbps for a better experience).
- The Portal remains a streaming-only device: it does not run downloaded PS5 games locally, so an internet connection and the appropriate subscription or entitlement are still necessary.
- Pricing for PlayStation Plus Premium varies by region; reporting from CNET lists U.S. pricing at about $18 per month or $160 per year.
What you need to know — requirements and limits
How this changes the Portal's role — closer to a standalone handheld
Sony has been positioning the Portal as a complementary PS5 device rather than a standalone console. Still, the feature shift meaningfully loosens that tether. Cloud streaming allows one household member to play from Sony's servers on a Portal while another uses the home PS5, or to keep playing away from the console when the PS5 is turned off or being used by someone else.
Sony product manager Takuro Fushimi has said the Portal exceeded internal expectations: "The Portal has now become the most widely used device for PlayStation 5 Remote Play, surpassing mobile, PC, PS4, PS5 and other platforms," and company data cited in reporting suggests Portal users stream frequently, with average sessions around two hours. A TechRadar summary of Sony's beta results also noted strong early adoption among Premium subscribers.
CNET observed the update makes the Portal feel more like a second, semi-independent PlayStation device and asked whether it signals a future true handheld from Sony. Sony's current stance, per Fushimi, is that streaming and Remote Play are the company's chosen route to deliver portable PlayStation experiences for now.
Why it matters for players
For existing Portal owners and potential buyers, the update broadens when and where PS5-quality games can be played: at a friend's house, in a hotel, or when the household PS5 is unavailable. The upgrade preserves Portal-specific perks — haptic feedback and adaptive triggers mirror the DualSense experience — while adding features that reduce friction (in-game purchases, invites, accessibility tools).
However, the experience remains dependent on subscription status and network reliability. Users with limited or unstable connections will still experience latency, resolution drops or disconnects that cloud gaming can introduce.
Bottom line
Sony's November 2025 update is the most significant evolution yet for the PlayStation Portal: cloud-streaming owned PS5 games takes the device a long way from being a simple Remote Play accessory toward a semi-standalone handheld. For PlayStation Plus Premium members with robust internet, the Portal now offers a much more flexible way to access a large swath of the PS5 library on the go. For others, the update highlights both the promise and the limits of cloud-first portable gaming.
For the full feature list and streaming availability by region, see the official PlayStation announcement on the PlayStation Blog.