Sony Bravia lets you game without a PlayStation

If you’ve ever wanted to turn your living room TV into a gaming hub without dragging a console out of the closet, Sony just made a move that pushes that idea closer to reality. A recent software update for select Sony Bravia smart TVs adds native support for PS Remote Play — letting you stream PlayStation games from your PS4 or PS5 to the big screen without needing the console right next to the TV.

It might feel familiar if you’ve kept an eye on how Microsoft has approached cloud and console-less play with Xbox, but Sony’s implementation focuses on remote streaming from your existing hardware instead of pure cloud gaming.

What’s new for Bravia owners

Here’s the gist of the update rolling out to Sony Bravia models from recent years:

• PS Remote Play built in: Once the update is installed, a new Remote Play icon appears in your TV’s inputs menu.
• Controller support: DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers work fully through Remote Play, including adaptive triggers and vibration feedback.
• Wide model coverage: Many Bravia TVs from 2021–2024 — including A90J, X90J/L, X85J, newer A95K and X80WK models — are part of the rollout.

The update essentially turns a compatible Bravia into a remote gaming screen for your PlayStation — ideal for sprawling couch co-op sessions or playing from another room, as long as you’ve got a stable Wi-Fi connection.

How remote play works (Without the console right there)

Sony’s PS Remote Play feature has existed for years and lets you stream your console’s output to phones, tablets, or computers — now it’s just baked straight into the TV.

Here’s the basic flow:

1. Your PS4/PS5 still does the heavy lifting. Remote Play doesn’t replace your console — it mirrors the game from your home system to your TV.
2. Network matters. A solid broadband connection (ideally 15 Mbps+) keeps latency and image quality in check.
3. Controller pairing: Connect a DualSense or DualShock to the TV just like you would to a console.

So while you’re not playing natively on the TV’s hardware, it’s a practical way to use your big screen for PlayStation games without physically connecting your PS to the set.

How this compares to Console-Free gaming trends

Microsoft has been experimenting with letting players game without a traditional Xbox console through cloud streaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming (part of Game Pass Ultimate). Some smart TV ecosystems and apps support that directly, meaning you can play games over the internet without a physical console at all.

Sony’s approach here is a bit different:

• Xbox cloud gaming: Streams the game from Microsoft’s servers straight to your TV app, no console necessary.
• Sony Remote Play on Bravia: Streams from your own console to your TV across your home network.

In other words, Microsoft focuses on cloud play without hardware, while Sony is boosting in-home flexibility for existing PlayStation owners.

Practical takeaways

If you’re a PlayStation gamer and you already own a compatible Bravia TV, this update removes one more hurdle between you and couch-side gaming:

• Easy start: Update your Bravia software and look for the Remote Play icon — no HDMI cable clutter.
• No new subscription required: This isn’t cloud gaming; it’s remote streaming from your console.
• Better controller integration: Full support for Sony’s current and last-gen DualShock/DualSense features.

Who This Makes Sense For

This isn’t a universal game-changer – if you don’t own a PlayStation console, it doesn’t magically unlock PlayStation games on your TV. But for existing PS4/PS5 players, it’s a neat quality-of-life upgrade:

• Large-screen gaming without cables
• Remote play from another room
• Quick access without switching inputs or devices