The PlayStation Portal remote player is a nifty handheld, but it has had one major criticism since its launch last November: when not connected to a PS5 console, it is essentially a $199 paperweight, but thanks to a new system update , that's going to change soon.

According to a new PlayStation Blog post, the new PlayStation Portal system update will allow users to cloud stream some games directly to Portal without being connected to the PS5 console. This feature is currently in beta, but will be available once the update is downloaded.

Streaming games directly to the PlayStation Portal requires an active PlayStation Plus Premium membership, which can be obtained by opening the “Quick Menu” in the PlayStation Portal, selecting “Settings” and toggling ” Cloud Streaming (Beta)” to enable this feature.

It should also be noted that it is not possible to stream all the best PS5 games directly. There are currently over 120 PS5 games that support this feature (all of which, of course, are included in the PlayStation Plus game catalog). These include Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Monster Hunter Rise, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, etc.

Unfortunately, PS4 and PS3 games available for streaming through the PlayStation Plus game catalog will not be supported during the beta. Also, just to repeat for the record, you will not be able to stream PS5 games purchased on PS5. At this time, only games in the PlayStation Plus game catalog are supported.

Of course, this update does not make PlayStation Portal a full PlayStation Vita 2. Streaming these games requires a stable Internet connection, and latency issues (which PS Portal reviewers experienced frequently during testing) may still appear. However, by decoupling the portal from the PS5, the device suddenly looks much more attractive.

Sony did not necessarily need to make the Portal more attractive. While some were skeptical of the need for it before its launch, it is now one of the best-selling accessories in PlayStation history and was so popular last winter that retailers could not keep it in stock. This upgrade could lead to a second demand, so if you are considering purchasing one this holiday season, we recommend securing it as soon as possible.

While this new cloud streaming capability is undoubtedly the biggest upgrade in this system update, it is not the only improvement. This update also introduces a new volume control that further adjusts the audio output of the built-in speakers and provides more control over connected audio devices such as the PlayStation Pulse Explore wireless earphones.

I already found the PlayStation Portal quite useful as an accessory for the PS5, but thanks to this update, it looks like the device will take on a life of its own and become a more universal PlayStation streaming handheld. If this functionality is further expanded, the Portal may eventually become a recommended gaming device for those who do not own a PS5 console.