PlayStation Portal Enhances Cloud Streaming with Beta Updates, Adds Gameplay Capture

Sony is enhancing the PlayStation Portal experience for users engaged in its Cloud Streaming Beta with a new update rolling out later today. This update introduces several user experience and functionality improvements to the remote play system's cloud capabilities.

A significant new feature is the ability to sort games within the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Users can now organize their games by Name, Release Date, or based on which titles were most recently added to PlayStation Plus, making it easier to navigate and find desired games.

Another exciting addition is the ability to capture gameplay during Cloud Streaming sessions. Players can access the familiar create menu to take screenshots or record video clips. According to the PlayStation blog, video clips can be recorded in up to 1920x1080 resolution and can last up to three minutes.

Gameplay will now pause under certain conditions, including when you open the PS Portal quick menu, enter rest mode via the power button, or if a system error message appears. However, the pause in rest mode is limited to 15 seconds; if the Portal stays in rest mode longer, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. Note that pausing is not supported during online multiplayer sessions.

Additional updates include a queue system for when the streaming server reaches capacity, notifications for user inactivity, and tools for gathering user feedback. Sony has committed to further enhancing the service based on the feedback received.

The Cloud Streaming Beta remains exclusive 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 independent cloud streaming device, and Sony appears dedicated to refining this feature moving forward.

As cloud streaming becomes increasingly integral to the gaming landscape, it will be fascinating to observe how Sony's service develops alongside the PlayStation Portal. The ability to capture numerous screenshots during streaming sessions is certainly a welcome enhancement for users.