Sony has officially announced a groundbreaking feature for its PlayStation 5: Cloud Streaming. This revolutionary new addition, set to be available exclusively to PlayStation Plus Premium Members, allows players to stream titles from the cloud, bypassing the need for lengthy downloads and conserving precious storage space on their consoles.
The new cloud streaming capability will debut later this month, with Japan leading the rollout on October 17, followed by Europe on October 23, and finally reaching North American shores on October 30. To start, a limited selection of titles, including the acclaimed Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ghost of Tsushima, and Mortal Kombat 11, will be made available. However, Sony has promised an expansion of this list, with hundreds of titles in the pipeline as part of its commitment to enhancing the gaming experience for their user base.
Beyond the titles pre-loaded in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, Premium members will also have access to Game Trials. This feature provides time-limited versions of popular games, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Hogwarts Legacy, effectively functioning as extended demos. For those with an existing library of digital titles, like Resident Evil 4 and Genshin Impact, they'll be pleased to discover that these games will be available for streaming, provided they hold a Plus Premium membership.
But the cloud streaming experience is not limited to just the gameplay. Sony has ensured that the visual and auditory experience remains top-notch. Members will be presented with a slew of resolution options, ranging from 720p to the coveted 4K. All of these can be enjoyed at 60 frames per second with both SDR and HDR outputs. On the auditory front, gamers can immerse themselves with 5.1 and 7.1 audio options and the custom Tempest 3D audio engine, a feature first unveiled with the PS5's release in 2020. Additionally, Sony offers users the ability to capture screenshots and record up to three minutes of gameplay, which can then be conveniently saved to the PS5's media gallery app.