After two months in a limited beta phase, PlayStation will make Cloud Streaming for PlayStation 5 titles available globally this month as part of the PlayStation Plus Premium tier benefits.
Up until now, Premium subscribers could only access PlayStation 4 titles in the Game Catalog and PS1/2 titles in the Classics Catalog through the Cloud Streaming service. This allowed players, using PlayStation 4/5 consoles and on PC, to stream games without having to download them and tie up vital space on their consoles.
As of the end of this month, that will be expanded to certain supported PlayStation 5 titles within the Game Catalog and game trials, plus digital versions of some games that the player already owns — though precisely which ones is currently not detailed. However, at least initially, you will need a PlayStation 5 in order to access these titles.
Unfortunately for racing game fans, Gran Turismo 7 is not included within that selection as it isn’t in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog (yet), although you will be able to access the full version of Wreckfest, and titles like Hot Wheels Unleashed and RiMS Racing as limited-time Game Trials.
PlayStation is however planning to extend the service further to encompass “hundreds of PS5 titles”, and it’s likely we’ll see at least PC support for PS5 Cloud Streaming over time.
The service will allow players to stream games at resolutions up to 4K, at 60fps and with HDR support, although your experience will vary greatly depending on your internet bandwidth. You won’t be able to access Cloud Streaming without at least 5Mbps of bandwidth, while 4K requires 38Mbps or more.
As well as streaming the titles, you’ll see — or rather hear — support for the PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D audio and 5.1/7.1 surround sound. Players will also be able to capture screenshots and record up to three minutes of video.
The full service is only currently available in the USA and Canada, Japan, the UK, and 26 European territories: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Players in Japan will be the first to experience Cloud Streaming, as it launches there on October 17. European gamers will be next, with a scheduled October 23 launch, and North America follows on October 30.
See more articles on Cloud Gaming and Playstation Plus.
