PS Portal Cloud Gaming: A Disappointing Beta
Sony’s PlayStation Portal promised a revolutionary change in gaming access with its cloud gaming feature, allowing users to stream games without a PS5. This beta test, however, reveals a different story.
The initial concept was enticing: a $200 PlayStation Portal and a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription for access to a curated game library. While potentially economical compared to buying a PS5 and individual games, the reality falls short.
PlayStation (Not So) Portable
While the Portal’s remote play function has improved, offering stable performance even on public Wi-Fi, its cloud gaming capabilities are underwhelming. The crucial need for a reliable internet connection remains a major limitation.
Testing in various locations showed that while remote play worked reasonably well with varying connection speeds (from 11 Mbps to 47 Mbps), cloud gaming suffered from significant issues. The experience was blurry, suffered from artifacting, and overall lacked stability.
In conclusion, the PS Portal’s cloud gaming beta is far from ready to disrupt the industry. It suffers from the same problems that have plagued cloud gaming, especially outside of home networks. While convenient in concept, the poor performance greatly hinders its practical usability.