Playstation is undoubtedly one of the most popular gaming platforms around. With the 5th iteration, Sony managed to offer unparalleled graphics when it comes to gaming consoles and many exciting features. Sony is testing PS5 cloud streaming, which might be confusing for some. Wasn’t that already available for PS Plus subscribers? In this article, we’ll explain everything about it and dispel other doubts.
A Bit About Playstation Plus
The idea behind cloud gaming is to play games that aren’t physically on your device. You connect to a server that responds to your commands and then displays the results on your screen. This is a bit similar to some online casino games, especially live casino options because the game isn’t installed on your device, it’s executed from servers elsewhere.
But what does all this have to do with PS5 and cloud gaming? To understand what’s happening now, we must delve into Playstation Plus’ recent history. PlayStation Plus is a service exclusive to Playstation users. Until last year, it allowed you to play online games and enjoy monthly games, exclusive discounts and cloud storage. A separate service called Playstation Now allows you to stream games from the cloud (more on this later).
One of the recent significant changes is the complete overhaul of the PS Plus subscription. PS Plus got a complete makeover, and PS Now ceased to exist. Instead of having a single subscription model, PS Plus was split into four tiers: Essential, Extra, Deluxe and Premium.
Whereas all tiers offered the same benefits the until-then PS Plus did, the Premium tier integrated concepts from PS Now. It allowed players to enjoy original PS3 games via cloud streaming and cloud streaming access for original PS One, PS2, PSP and PS4 games.
What’s the big deal, then, if cloud streaming has been available for Sony consoles since 2014?
The Novelties
Even though cloud game streaming has been around for a long time in Sony consoles, the company is now experimenting with something that has never been done before. Sony is releasing beta software that allows some PS Plus Premium subscribers to enjoy PS5 streaming with Ultra HD resolution. This is major because of two reasons.
First, it’s the first time Sony allows cloud gaming for PS5-era games, a technological feat in itself. Second, 4K streaming was never available because older consoles didn’t allow such a resolution.
If you’re wondering whether your internet connection can handle 4K cloud gaming, you don’t need to worry. According to some users, the beta lets you use different resolutions from 720p to 2160p (4K), which can help with slow or poor connectivity.
However exciting this may be, notice that not all games will be available. Sony mentioned in June it’d be exclusive to a selected list but didn’t give any names. A user who already has beta access notes there are currently 12 games supported. These are:
- God of War Ragnarok
- Destiny 2
- Returnal
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Fortnite
- Death Stranding
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- Resident Evil Village
- Fall Guys
- Destruction All Stars
- Demon’s Souls Remake
- Demon Slayer
Nothing is set in stone since this development is still in its beta phase. More additions could come before the service is fully available, and other changes might also happen.
When the service officially launches, it’ll be the most advanced proposal of its kind in gaming consoles. Its main competitor is Xbox Cloud Gaming, which currently streams at 1080p.
The Future Looks Hi-Res
PlayStation Plus has gone a long way since its inception. Sony integrated the often-misunderstood PS Now into its primary subscription model, and it paid off. There are now more features for subscribers than ever, especially in the top-tier options.
Sony offering this beta is just the beginning. Likely, more games will be available in the future, and perhaps many will question whether to purchase games or subscriptions. Only time will tell.
