Playing without a PS5: cloud streaming on PlayStation Portal in 2026

Originally designed as a second screen for playing your PS5 from another room, PlayStation Portal has moved into a new league. Thanks to cloud streaming, it can now launch PS5 games without a console. Cloud gaming is one of the big trends in video games, and Portal has become PlayStation's gateway to it.

Two ways to play

• Remote Play: Portal connects over Wi-Fi to your PS5, which runs the game.
• Cloud streaming: the game runs on Sony's servers. No need for a PS5 to be switched on. This feature, which left beta in November 2025, is reserved for PlayStation Plus Premium members.

What's new in 2026

The major update of March 2026 added a 1080p High Quality mode, with a higher bitrate than standard 1080p, for both Remote Play and cloud streaming. It is switched on from the quick menu, under the “Max Resolution” option. The same update improved game invitations, trophy notifications and account creation by QR code. Since then, the catalogue of streamable games has grown steadily: big releases have been added throughout the year, up to the October 2026 update.

What connection do you need?

Sony states that you need a broadband Wi-Fi connection of at least 5 Mbps and recommends at least 15 Mbps for a better experience. In practice, a stable connection matters more than top speed: favour 5 GHz Wi-Fi close to your router.

Who is it for?

Portal appeals to families who share the TV, players who want to carry on their game in bed, and now those who want to sample the PlayStation catalogue without investing in a console straight away, provided they have the Premium subscription and a good connection.

Discover the PlayStation Portal remote player, in white or Midnight Black.

Sources

• Blog PlayStation, new PlayStation Portal update (1080p High Quality mode), 17 March 2026 – blog.playstation.com
• Journal du Geek, «La PlayStation Portal va avoir droit à une grosse mise à jour», 17 March 2026 – journaldugeek.com
• AlternativeTo, PlayStation Portal supports cloud streaming (PS Plus Premium), November 2025 – alternativeto.net
• PlayStation LifeStyle, PS Portal cloud catalogue update, 8 October 2026 – playstationlifestyle.net