Sony announces a major addition to PlayStation Plus: PS5 streaming in 4K. A snub to Xbox which had nevertheless made cloud gaming its specialty.
Sony recently revealed its new PS5 Slim console, which isn’t quite that Slim, and, in its wake, the company also made changes to its PlayStation Plus subscription service.
Sony has just announced the introduction PS5 cloud streaming for PlayStation Plus Premium members. After a beta phase, this functionality is now accessible to all Premium service subscribers.
PS5 cloud gaming streaming offers gamers the ability to play streaming games in 4K HDR, a notable technical feat which puts Sony in direct competition with Microsoft and its Xbox Cloud offer included in Game Pass Ultimate. Until then, only Nvidia GeForce Now offered 4K streaming thanks to cloud gaming. This was also the case for Google Stadia, but the service has since disappeared. However, we will have to wait until October 23, 2023 to enjoy it in Europe.
A mixed PS5 exclusive
Despite this new feature, PS5 cloud streaming has a significant limitation: PS5 games available through this service can only be played on PS5 consoles. This restriction is surprising since, technically, nothing would prevent Sony from offering this service on PS4 and PC, platforms where cloud gaming is also available via Sony subscriptions.
Optimized synchronization between local and cloud gaming
One of the major benefits of introducing PS5 games to cloud gaming is the improved synchronization of saves between local games and cloud games.
Previously, players were experiencing sync issues when streaming a PS4 game and then trying to access the save after downloading the game. This difficulty appears to have been resolved with the introduction of PS5 cloud gaming, providing a smoother and more integrated gaming experience.
With what games?
PlayStation Plus now offers access to some of the biggest PS5 hits, making the subscription even more enticing for gamers. Members can enjoy must-haves such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralesa title acclaimed for its stunning graphics and fluid gameplay, Horizon Forbidden West which is praised for its beautiful and detailed open world, Ghost of Tsushimaknown for its captivating storytelling and polished visual aesthetic. Mortal Kombat 11 And Saints Row IV round out this list, respectively offering brutal, wild action and offbeat humor in an open world environment.
For those curious to try new games, PlayStation Plus also introduces game trials for select PS5 titles. Subscribers can experience the vast territories and deep intrigue of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or explore the horrific SF universe of The Callisto Protocol.
Want to join a community of enthusiasts? Our Discord welcomes you, it is a place of mutual help and passion around tech.