You can now play PS5 games without owning the console

If you've ever wanted to play your favorite PlayStation games but don't have access to a television, then the PlayStation Portal is the product for you.

However, the PlayStation Portal, unsurprisingly, requires a PlayStation 5, as the handheld device streams PS4 or PS5 games from the console to the device through a WiFi connection. What if you wanted to stream PlayStation games without owning a PS5, though? After all, they are getting quite expensive.

Good news: there's a new app that can do just that. Introducing Asobi: Remote Play, a third-party application that can stream select PlayStation games to your Steam Deck, Steam Machine, or Linux without the need for a PlayStation console. The application is currently in a playtest phase, which you can register for on Steam.

Windows 11 is currently not supported, but the development team is hoping to change that soon.

Here's How Asobi: Remote Play Works

Asobi Remote Play

Now, you may be asking how you can stream PS4 and PS5 games without a nearby console. It's through the power of the cloud.

A PlayStation Plus Premium subscription comes with the ability to stream select games through the cloud. Asobi harnesses this ability and lets you stream from the cloud to a Steam Deck, rather than a PlayStation console. No downloads required here, just streaming games through a broadband internet connection with a minimum of 5 Mbps of upload and download speeds.

It's important to note that only select PS5 games are available, which means no PS3 or PS4 games. In total, 3,970 PS5 games are available to stream through the cloud, including Madden NFL 27, MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, Big Walk, and Beast of Reincarnation. Suffice it to say, there's a good chance you'll find something of interest.

The full, premium experience provides the following:

• Full controller support

• HDR video support

• 1080p / 60 fps streaming

• Upscaling up to 4K on supported displays

• Up to 120 fps output on supported monitors

• Low-latency modes

• Manual bitrate control

• Experimental FEC mode for unstable Wi-Fi networks

• Audio delay and behavior settings

• Controller haptics

• Zoom & Pan for a full-screen experience

• On-screen lightbar-style status indicator

• On-device gyro input support

• On-device haptic feedback

The Asobi App Is Launching As Sony Is Moving Away From Physical Media and Console Prices Spike

The Asobi App Is Launching As Sony Is Moving Away From Physical Media and Console Prices Spike

One of the biggest trends in recent history for games is the emergence of handheld devices. Nintendo launched the Switch in 2017 as a home console/handheld hybrid, following it up with the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. PlayStation followed suit with the previously mentioned PlayStation Portal, but again, it's only able to stream from the console on your home WiFi. Microsoft jumped into the game, too, with the ROG XBOX Ally.

Then, of course, there are all the PC centric devices, such as the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go. Handheld gaming is clearly not going anywhere, but one thing appears to be coming back: console-exclusive games. XBOX made the decision recently to make Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution (Fable, for now, is still coming to the PlayStation 5) exclusively on XBOX Series X|S and PC. It goes against the company's recent strategy of putting its games on all platforms, including the PlayStation 5. Sony, meanwhile, quietly stopped porting their games to the PC platform. Then, of course, there's Nintendo, which has always exclusively released first-party games on its systems.

It's becoming more and more clear that if you want to play first-party games, you need to own a first-party device (aside from XBOX games on PC). Asobi's ability to let people stream PlayStation games to a Steam Deck through a PlayStation Plus subscription is a great step forward for accessibility. Unfortunately, there's been a lot of momentum in the opposite direction. Sony made the decision to stop producing physical games in 2028, and all three consoles have seen, or will see, price increases by the end of 2026. That also doesn't account for the sky-high prices for PC hardware.

With video gaming becoming more and more expensive, it's nice to find a way to play PlayStation games without having to, well, pay for a PlayStation 5. Granted, you'll still need to own a supported device, but if it eliminates the need to spend upward of an extra $1,000, then that's a step in the right direction if you ask me.