Sony beat Microsoft to bring 4K cloud gaming in next-gen consoles

Sony’s PlayStation 5 has just beaten Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S to be the world’s first provider of 4K cloud gaming. 

The blue console’s makers have begun beta testing cloud streaming for PS5 games, as a part of PlayStation Premium subscription perks. This means that PS5 owners will soon be able to play next-gen games on other devices without downloading them to their consoles. 

“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. When this feature launches, cloud game streaming for supported PS5 titles will be available for use directly on your PS5 console,” says Sony’s VP, Nick Maguire, announcing the 4k cloud gaming service at that time. 

The beta test is currently limited to select PlayStation Premium subscribers, but Sony plans to roll it out more widely in the coming months. No titles of supported games have been officially announced just yet, but it should include PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported digital titles.

Cloud streaming for PS5 games is available directly on the PS5 console, though there have been no words about it on PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android devices yet.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has not yet announced any plans to offer 4K cloud gaming with the Xbox Series X/S consoles although the Xbox Cloud Gaming was released a little over three years ago. However, Microsoft does offer 1080p cloud gaming with the next-gen consoles, and Microsoft may eventually offer 4K cloud gaming in the future.