PlayStation Portal Beta Adds Game Capture Feature

Sony is deploying a new update for PlayStation Portal users participating in its Cloud Streaming Beta. This release introduces several user experience refinements and general functionality improvements to the remote play system's cloud features, rolling out later today.

A key enhancement is the new sorting capability, enabling players to organize games within the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Options include sorting by Name, Release Date, and the most recent additions to PlayStation Plus.

Players can now also capture gameplay during cloud streaming sessions. The standard create menu functions remain available, whether accessing the menu, taking screenshots, or recording video clips. According to Sony's PlayStation blog post about the update, supported video recordings can reach 1920x1080 resolution with durations of up to three minutes.

Additionally, gameplay will automatically pause when opening the PS Portal quick menu, entering rest mode via the power button, or when system error messages appear. The rest mode pause lasts for 15 seconds; if the Portal stays in rest mode beyond this period, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. Note that pausing is not supported during online multiplayer matches.

Other updates include a queue system for when streaming servers reach capacity, inactivity notifications, and additional user feedback tools. PlayStation confirmed it will continue implementing new features based on community input.

The Cloud Streaming Beta is currently exclusive to PlayStation Plus Premium members, allowing them to stream selected PS5 games from the PS Plus Catalog directly to their PS Portal. While the Portal traditionally connects to a PlayStation 5 console, last year's update transformed it into a more independent cloud streaming device, and Sony appears committed to further refining this functionality over time.

As cloud streaming establishes itself in the modern gaming landscape, it will be fascinating to observe how Sony's service evolves alongside its PlayStation Portal hardware. At the very least, players can appreciate the ability to capture numerous screenshots during their streaming sessions.