PlayStation Portal Enhances Cloud Streaming Beta with Gameplay Capture

Sony is set to enhance the gaming experience for PlayStation Portal users with a new update to its Cloud Streaming Beta. This update, scheduled to roll out later today, brings several user experience and functionality improvements to the remote play system's cloud capabilities.

One of the key additions is the ability to sort games within the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Players can now organize their games by Name, Release Date, or based on when titles were most recently added to PlayStation Plus, making it easier to navigate and find the games they want to play.

Another significant update is the introduction of gameplay capturing during Cloud Streaming sessions. Users can now access the create menu to take screenshots or record video clips, with Sony supporting video clips up to 1920x1080 resolution and three minutes in duration, as mentioned in the PlayStation blog.

Gameplay will also pause under certain conditions, such as when the PS Portal quick menu is opened, when entering rest mode via the power button, or if a system error message appears. However, the pause feature in rest mode is limited to 15 seconds; if the Portal remains in rest mode beyond this time, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. It's worth noting that this pause feature is not available during online multiplayer sessions.

Additional updates include a queue system for when the streaming server reaches capacity, notifications for inactivity, and new user feedback tools. Sony has expressed its commitment to continuously refining the service based on user feedback.

The Cloud Streaming Beta remains exclusive to PlayStation Plus Premium members, allowing them to stream select PS5 games from the PS Plus Catalog directly on the PS Portal. Following last year's update, which transformed the Portal into a more standalone cloud streaming device, Sony appears dedicated to further developing this feature.

As cloud streaming becomes increasingly integral to the gaming ecosystem, it will be fascinating to observe how Sony's Cloud Streaming Beta evolves alongside the PlayStation Portal. The ability to capture numerous screenshots while streaming to your Portal adds a valuable layer of engagement for users.