Sony has announced that it is conducting tests on cloud streaming for PlayStation 5 (PS5) games. The company is exploring the possibility of adding this feature to its PlayStation Plus Premium subscription service.
Nick Maguire, VP of Global Services, Global Sales, and Business Operations at Sony Interactive Entertainment, stated that they are currently testing cloud streaming for supported PS5 games. This includes PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as digital PS5 titles owned by players. Once launched, this feature will enable users to directly stream supported PS5 games on their PS5 consoles without the need for downloading them.
Introducing a cloud streaming feature for PS5 games will eliminate the requirement to download games to the console before streaming them to other devices. Currently, Sony supports game streaming from PS5 to PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android devices. However, users are required to use their PS5 consoles as the host for downloading and streaming titles to other devices.
By expanding cloud streaming capabilities to include PS5 games, Sony aims to provide users with more convenience and flexibility in accessing and playing their favorite games across various devices.
In recent months, it has been evident that Sony has been working on cloud streaming for PS5 games. Job listings and statements from PlayStation chief Jim Ryan have hinted at a forthcoming focus on cloud gaming. While Sony has unveiled its PlayStation handheld, codenamed Project Q, and confirmed Wi-Fi streaming of PS5 games directly from a console, it has not provided specific details about PS5 cloud game streaming for this device.
However, the introduction of PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming indicates that Sony is making strides towards this goal, even though no release date has been announced. Kenichiro Yoshida, Sony’s CEO, previously suggested that the company is still in the early stages of cloud gaming, so it’s possible that Project Q may launch (potentially in November) without immediate support for this feature.
According to Nick Maguire, Sony’s VP of Global Services, the company recognizes the importance of allowing PlayStation Plus Premium members to access a wide range of games through cloud streaming. While they are currently in the early stages of development, Maguire expressed excitement about sharing more details, including a launch timeframe, when they are ready.
Sony’s confirmation of PS5 cloud streaming comes several years after the surprising partnership announcement with Microsoft. The partnership was intended to facilitate the joint development of cloud solutions for gaming and content-streaming services. However, details about the collaboration have been scarce since 2019.
In 2021, PlayStation chief Jim Ryan mentioned that Sony was still in the stage of exchanging ideas, despite the initial promise of exploring Microsoft Azure datacenter-based solutions for Sony’s services. Given Sony’s recent mentions of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in job listings, it is possible that the strategic partnership with Microsoft has concluded.
