​Sony expands cloud gaming services, enabling PS Plus subscribers to stream top titles

In a significant leap forward, Sony is bolstering its cloud gaming endeavors, offering PlayStation Plus subscribers the opportunity to stream renowned titles such as "Spider-Man: Miles Morales" and the highly-anticipated "Resident Evil 4" remake directly to their PlayStation 5 consoles in the weeks ahead. Additionally, the tech giant has hinted at the prospect of extending PS5 cloud gaming to various other devices, including smartphones, in the foreseeable future.

The company disclosed its plan in an official statement posted on the PlayStation Blog earlier today, announcing, "Starting this month, we will begin launching cloud streaming access for supported PS5 digital titles within the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported titles in the PS5 game library that PlayStation Plus Premium members own." This exciting new feature is set to go live in North America around October 30, exclusively available to subscribers of the Premium tier of PlayStation Plus, which saw a price increase by Sony just last month, now costing $18 per month or $160 annually.

Paying subscribers will be able to stream games to their PS5 consoles from Sony's servers, eliminating the need for time-consuming downloads. A wide array of games is set to support cloud gaming from the launch, with additional titles slated for inclusion over time. Some of the games initially endorsed by Sony include:


Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Horizon Forbidden West
Ghost of Tsushima
Mortal Kombat 11
Saints Row IV
Resident Evil 4
Dead Island 2
Genshin Impact
Fall Guys
Fortnite
Moreover, game trials will also be available for streaming, featuring titles such as "Hogwarts Legacy," "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," and "The Callisto Protocol." Cloud-streamed games will offer a range of resolutions, from 720p up to 4K, with support for 60fps and HDR output when applicable. Players can also capture screenshots and record video clips lasting up to three minutes.

As the quality of game streaming continues to fluctuate, often dependent on the speed of one's home internet connection, this development serves as a welcome convenience for players looking to test games without committing to the lengthy installation process or for swiftly engaging with live-service titles like "Destiny 2" to complete daily or weekly challenges. With the file sizes of blockbuster games ballooning to over 100GB, managing installations has become a tiresome chore, making cloud streaming an effective solution to alleviate such frustrations.

While cloud gaming has been accessible for a variety of titles through services like Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One for some time, and competitors such as Nvidia's GeForce Now offering similar functionality on PC, Sony is now catching up with its own cloud gaming efforts. Earlier this year, job listings within the company hinted at a substantial push to invest in and expand its cloud gaming capabilities, and PS5 owners are beginning to witness the fruits of that effort, marking an important milestone in the evolution of gaming services.