Sony expands Portal's cloud capabilities: retro games now available without a PS5

Sony continues to develop cloud gaming for the PlayStation Portal handheld without making major announcements. A year and a half after the beta launch of its streaming service, dozens of iconic titles from the PS Plus Premium catalog have been added, including hits from the PS1 and PSP eras. Now, Portal owners can dive into nostalgia, playing classics like Ape Escape, Tekken 2, and The Legend of Dragoon directly on the handheld screen — no PlayStation 5 required.

Initially, the device was criticized for its limited functionality — the screen functioned only as a remote terminal for the PS5. However, the November 2024 update changed everything: cloud streaming now allows games to be played directly from Sony’s servers. With the expanded library, Portal is evolving into a standalone platform for retro gaming, though a Premium subscription (starting at $17.99/month) is required for access.

The service remains in beta and is currently available in just 30 regions, including the UK, Japan, the US, and most EU countries. Sony recommends an internet speed of at least 15 Mbps for stable performance, making the device heavily reliant on connection quality. Interestingly, Sony does not mention catalog expansions in official PS Plus announcements. For example, on March 18, three Armored Core titles from FromSoftware were added to the streaming library, following earlier releases of remastered versions of Syphon Filter and MediEvil.

Released in November 2023, the device quickly became hard to find due to high demand and scalpers. The streaming update strengthens Portal’s position, making it a versatile tool for both classic and modern titles — this week, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was added to PS Plus. While Sony has yet to announce when the cloud service will exit beta, it’s clear that these retro gaming experiments are just the first step in PlayStation Portal’s transformation.