Sony is capitalising on the growing popularity of cloud gaming by diving headfirst into the trend. The company recently announced that it has begun testing the streaming of PS5 games directly from the cloud. In a blog post, the PlayStation manufacturer not only revealed its ambitious plans but also shared its intentions to integrate this cloud streaming feature into the PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, further elevating the gaming experience for users. The news also aligns perfectly with its strategic move to introduce on-the-go PS5 game streaming on devices such as the upcoming Project Q handheld.
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Despite some initial concerns over Sony's streaming infrastructure and the feasibility of their streaming device, the company's recent announcement suggests that the upcoming feature could play a crucial role in keeping Sony ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
Nick Maguire, Vice President of Global Services, Global Sales, and Business Operations at Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced the feature, stating, "We're currently testing cloud streaming for supported PS5 games - this includes PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported digital PS5 titles that players own."
He further went on to add, "When this feature launches, cloud game streaming for supported PS5 titles will be available for use directly on your PS5 console."
The addition of a cloud feature for PS5 games would eliminate the hassle of downloading titles to your console before being able to stream them on different devices. Sony currently lets you stream PS5 games to PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android devices. However, the current setup requires utilizing the PS5 as the host for downloading and streaming titles to other devices.
As of writing, no official release dates have been announced and Sony has not shared any details regarding whether its upcoming PlayStation handheld will support PS5 cloud game streaming. However, the inclusion of PlayStation Plus Premium cloud integration does seem to hint at a step in that direction. Moreover, only select PS5 titles will be available to stream via the cloud and chances are Sony will gradually incorporate its extensive collection of exclusive titles into its service. However, the company has once again confirmed that it won't be dropping major exclusives on the service day one, unlike Xbox.
While talking to GamesIndustry.biz, Nick Maguire said that exclusive games will continue to be released "outside the service first." Maguire asserted that the current strategy of adding games to the Premium subscription a year or more after their initial release is "working," which basically means that Sony wants to maximize its game purchases. "We think it's important for Premium members to be able to enjoy as many games as possible via cloud streaming," stated Maguire. "We're in the early stages right now, and we can't wait to share more details when we're ready, including a launch time frame."
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