Sony Expands PlayStation 5 Cloud Game Streaming: Public Beta Launches for 4K Gaming

A dozen games are available in the beta. ©PlayStation

Elevating the Cloud Gaming Experience

While not Sony's first foray into cloud gaming, the brand is determined to amplify its presence in the cloud gaming arena. With this new development, Sony is making strides to enhance its cloud gaming service by enabling PlayStation 5 game streaming in remarkable 4K resolution. This strategic move serves as a stepping stone towards the company's future endeavours in this dynamic field.

1 - According to this image shared by someone who has tested cloud gaming

Embracing the Public Beta

Back in June, as part of the first-anniversary celebrations for its revamped PlayStation Plus offer – which has replaced PlayStation Now – Sony unveiled plans to grant access to the latest generation of PS5 games through its cloud game streaming service. After conducting thorough testing, the Japanese tech giant rolled out a beta version of this functionality to subscribers of PlayStation Plus Premium (available for £13.49 per month). As confirmed by a spokesperson and reported by The Verge, gamers now have the opportunity to explore a selection of games without the need for downloads.

Game Selection and Accessibility

While the list of games available via the cloud service remains limited, select users who've had a chance to explore the feature have revealed the titles. Among them are highly anticipated titles such as God of War: Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Returnal, Demon's Souls, Death Stranding, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Destruction All Stars, Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Destiny 2. Additionally, trial versions of Resident Evil Village and Demon Slayer are also accessible to users.

The Quest for True 4K Streaming

User testimonials have started pouring in on various forums, shedding light on their experiences. Some gamers have reported that launching a game directly and resuming gameplay from the cloud's save point is now possible – a previously unattainable feat on the PlayStation Now cloud platform. This is significant progress, considering the challenges of importing PS3 game backups to the cloud.

Gamers have also shared their options for broadcasting their gameplay. A forum user named ArashiGames from ResetEra highlighted that gameplay resolutions of 720p, 1080p, 1440p, and even an impressive 2160p (akin to 4K resolution) are available. The big question, however, is whether this 4K experience pertains to the streaming itself or the rendering of the game.

You can adjust game streaming resolution and choose 4K in real time. Check out this image from ArashiGames on ResetEra.

Understanding the 4K Streaming Dynamic

According to ArashiGames, 4K streaming is indeed feasible, provided a robust internet connection is at play. This suggests that the image displayed on the screen is as sharp and clear as possible, a notable feat given the data's high compression for quick transmission to the display or television. This is a key consideration for cloud gamers as maintaining image quality during streaming can be challenging.

Sony PlayStation 5 Cloud Game Streaming connection test

A Glimpse into Sony's Future Cloud Gaming Plans

Sony's venture into cloud gaming is multi-faceted. It seeks to not only compete more effectively with industry rival Microsoft but also to prepare for the potential launch of a dedicated console for digital gaming and its portable console project, Project Q.

In conclusion, Sony's decision to roll out a public beta for PS5 game streaming in 4K via its cloud is a significant leap forward. As cloud gaming continues to gain momentum in the gaming world, Sony's efforts not only aim to capture a larger audience but also set the stage for its future innovations in the realm of cloud-based gaming experiences.