Getting cloudy

With a chance of gaming - PS Plus' PS5 streaming is beginning to roll out

Streaming has been part of PlayStation’s online offerings since PS Now (the game catalogue that’s now part of PS Plus Premium and Extra). However, originally it was a bandage solution to the PS3 back catalogue problem – as later consoles were unable to run games designed for that system’s complicated hardware, streaming was the only way they could be played. But now PlayStation is looking to make streaming a feature.

Designed to rival competing services like xCloud and Google Stadia (no longer a rival; RIP), PlayStation’s new cloud streaming doesn’t have a fancy name, but it does have the capability. Subscribers to the PS Plus Premium tier and higher will be able to stream supported PS5 games from their library, as well as the PS Plus Catalogue and Game Trials. It’s especially handy when browsing a big list of games you’ve been given access to as part of your sub, as you can jump in and check one out without having to wait around to download it, only to find you don’t really want to play it at all.

THUNDER RUMBLE