Sony's PlayStation Now cloud gaming service will soon support 1080p streaming

Best PS4 games
(Image credit: Sony)

Sony will start rolling out support for 1080p streaming (aka Full HD) on PlayStation Now from this week, thus levelling up the streaming quality of its cloud gaming service’s current 720p cap.

The Japanese gaming giant shared the news in a tweet on its official PlayStation account, which reads: “The rollout will occur over the next several weeks across Europe, US, Canada, and Japan, where PlayStation Now is available”.

As first noted by The Verge, Sony has yet to share a list of games that can actually be streamed in the higher resolution, but says support will soon roll out for “1080p capable games”. 

Granting some PlayStation Now games 1080p streaming will bring the cloud gaming service up on a par with several of Sony’s competitors. Amazon’s Luna currently maxes out at 1080p, although Google’s Stadia can hit up to a 4K resolution. Microsoft, meanwhile, is currently trialling 1080p support for xCloud, its Xbox cloud gaming offering launched in September last year. 

MORE: 

Still looking to buy a PS5? See PS5 stock and where to buy: latest PS5 restock details

Read our review of the Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset

See our pick of the best PS5 games 2021

Becky has been a full-time staff writer at What Hi-Fi? since March 2019. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, she freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 20-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance is of course tethered to a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo, This is Cabaret and The Stage. When not writing, she dances, spins in the air, drinks coffee, watches football or surfs in Cornwall with her other half – a football writer whose talent knows no bounds. 

Read more
A TV showing the new Now home page with Free Guy as the featured selection. Two people sitting in the foreground watching the TV in a modern living room environment.
Now TV to receive a major overhaul with new features and a fresh look later this month
PS5 on a wooden cabinet next to a TV
How to get the best picture and sound from your PlayStation 5
PS5 Pro on a white background
Sony PS5 Pro: release date, price, features and more
LG OLED42C2
Hardcore gamers rejoice: more TVs should have three or four HDMI 2.1 ports this year
Surround sound budget AV system
Sony launches its first new 4K Blu-ray player in over five years – and it's good and bad news
Netflix library
Netflix is hiking prices – and it could be the start of a trend
Latest in Gaming
LG OLED42C2
Hardcore gamers rejoice: more TVs should have three or four HDMI 2.1 ports this year
Sony PS5 Pro and PS5 consoles on a grey and red background
PS5 Pro vs PS5: what are the differences?
PS5 Pro on a white background
The super-powerful PS5 Pro doesn't come with a disc drive or stand but costs £700 / $700
Two gamers on a sofa enjoying a split screen racing game on a TV lit by the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 8K.
The new, pricier Philips Hue Play sync box 8K is made for gamers
Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore earbuds
Sony's upcoming PlayStation 5 update will bring personalised spatial audio to the console
Graphic showing the labelled Xbox Series X Digital Edition
Disc-less Xbox Series X Digital Edition (and two more consoles) get release date
Latest in News
Audiolab 6000A MkII amplifier in silver
Audiolab upgrades its five-star 6000A amplifier with a new DAC chip, enhanced circuitry and HDMI ARC
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Quick! This five-star Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped close to its lowest price
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
Vinyl records and music streaming both hit landmark highs – but the one growing faster in revenue may surprise you
Vertere DG X turntable in black finish
Vertere's gorgeous DG X turntable features significant updates for a more refined performance overall