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Yes, but only in limited cases. Sony’s legacy PS3 Remote Play feature can send a PS3’s screen to a compatible PS Vita or PSP, and only some PS3 games support it. The current PS Remote Play app, PS4, PS5 and PlayStation Portal cannot connect to a PS3.
Which devices can remote-play a PS3?
| PS3 source | Client device | Can it play PS3 games? | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS3 | PS Vita | Yes, selected games | Uses the legacy PS3 Remote Play feature. |
| PS3 | PSP | Yes, selected games | Sony’s documented setup requires PSP system software 3.72 or later. |
| PS3 | Phone, tablet, PC or Mac | No official current method | The current PS Remote Play service is for PS4 and PS5 consoles. |
| PS3 | PS4 or PS5 | No | Newer consoles are not PS3 Remote Play clients. |
| PS3 | PlayStation Portal | No | Portal Remote Play connects to a PS5; its cloud streaming is for selected PS5 games, not PS3 games. |
Sony’s PS3 Remote Play guide identifies PSP and PS Vita as compatible devices and cautions that only some games support the feature. Sony’s current Remote Play service, by contrast, lists PS4 and PS5 as the source consoles.
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What PS3 Remote Play actually does
The PS3 runs the game and transmits its display and controls to a paired handheld. This is not PS3 emulation, playing a PS3 game on a newer console, or cloud gaming. It is also different from sending the console’s video through a capture device.
Remote Play can work over a local wireless connection or shared router, and Sony’s legacy documentation also describes internet connections. Local play is the better first target: internet use adds router, firewall, account and legacy-service variables, so it cannot be guaranteed to work for every setup today.
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Before you try it: check the game
A successful connection does not mean every game will run remotely. Sony says only some games support Remote Play; do not assume that all disc games, digital games or PlayStation Store purchases are compatible. Verify the particular release using its original packaging or manual, available title-specific Sony information, or a test on your own hardware.
Also consider controls. A PSP has fewer inputs than a DualShock 3, and the Vita’s layout differs from a conventional PlayStation controller. A game may launch but still be awkward or unusable if it depends on controls or peripherals the handheld cannot reproduce. Blu-ray and DVD playback, as well as copyright-protected video files, are not supported through PS3 Remote Play, according to Sony’s guide.
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Set up PS3 Remote Play with a PS Vita
1. Pair the Vita and PS3
On the PS3, open Settings > Remote Play Settings > Register Device, then follow the on-screen pairing instructions. Sony notes that supported device types can vary by region. See its device registration guide.
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- Start the PS3 Remote Play application on the Vita and tap Start.
- On the PS3, select Network > Remote Play.
- On the Vita, choose Connect via Private Network.
- Wait for the PS3 screen to appear, then try a confirmed compatible game.
Sony’s local wireless instructions describe this route. A shared router or direct wireless connection may be available depending on the PS3 model and setup.
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3. Try an internet connection only after local play works
On the PS3, select Network > Remote Play. On the Vita, open PS3 Remote Play, tap Start, choose Connect via Internet, and sign in with the account associated with the PS3. Sony’s internet Remote Play instructions document this process. The PS3 must be available for Remote Play; the same account and a successful network path are important.
Set up PS3 Remote Play with a PSP
Sony’s documented PSP setup calls for system software 3.72 or later. That is the manual’s historical minimum, not a promise that every present-day PSP, account or network will connect.
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Pair the PSP and PS3
- Connect the PSP to the PS3 using a USB cable.
- On the PSP, choose Settings > USB Connection.
- On the PS3, go to Settings > Remote Play Settings > Register Device.
- Confirm the USB connection and finish registration.
For local play, start Network > Remote Play on the PS3. On the PSP, open Network > Remote Play, choose Connect via Private Network, then select the PS3. For the internet route, put the PS3 into Remote Play standby; on the PSP choose Network > Remote Play > Connect via Internet, select an access point and sign in with the account associated with the PS3. Sony’s PSP instructions cover pairing and local play and internet play.
Why PS Remote Play, PS5 and Portal are not solutions
The modern PS Remote Play app does not offer a way to add a PS3 as its source console. A PS4 or PS5 cannot act as a client for a game running on a PS3 either. Those newer-device features are separate from the PS3-to-handheld system Sony documented for PSP and Vita.
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PlayStation Portal is not a PS3 Remote Play device. It can connect to a PS5 for Remote Play, and Sony offers cloud streaming for selected PS5 games under applicable conditions. Sony’s Portal cloud-streaming support page says PS3 and PS4 games are unavailable for that feature. A PS Plus Premium subscription therefore is not a general way to stream games from your own PS3 or its library to Portal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you do not own a Vita or PSP
- Want Sony’s original handheld method? A used Vita or PSP may be relevant, but confirm your exact game supports Remote Play before buying. These are discontinued devices, so condition, battery health and availability can vary.
- Want to use a phone or computer? There is no current official PS3 Remote Play app path. A video capture device may display PS3 output on a compatible computer or mobile setup, but requires extra hardware, cables and software; controls are handled separately, and latency may be an issue. This is a workaround, not Remote Play.
- Considering a PlayStation Portal? Do not buy one solely to play games running on a PS3. Its PS5 features do not provide a connection to a PS3.
- Just want to play the game? Playing directly on the PS3 remains the straightforward option. Backward compatibility or streaming on a newer PlayStation is a separate question and does not make that console a Remote Play client for your PS3.
Troubleshooting
The handheld cannot find the PS3
- Make sure both devices are on and you are opening PS3 Remote Play on the PSP or Vita—not the current phone or PC app.
- On the PS3, start Network > Remote Play.
- Confirm pairing under Settings > Remote Play Settings > Register Device.
- For router-based local play, put both devices on the same ordinary network, not a guest Wi-Fi network. Check for multiple routers or separate subnets; Sony warns that multiple routers can prevent the devices from communicating.
- If available, try a direct local wireless connection, then update system software where possible.
Local play works, but internet play fails
First confirm the PS3 is set up for Remote Play standby and, if you expect it to wake automatically, check Settings > Remote Play Settings > Remote Start. Verify the account and PS3 internet connection, then check router NAT and firewall behavior. Avoid guest networks and double-NAT configurations. If local play still works, the game and handheld are likely not the cause; internet failure may reflect router behavior or the limitations of a legacy connection path.
The PS3 connects, but the game does not work
Check that the specific game supports Remote Play, test another confirmed-compatible title, and consider whether the game requires an unsupported peripheral or input. Compatibility is title-specific; a working connection alone does not establish game support.
Store changes are not proof Remote Play ended
Sony’s PlayStation Store notice concerns commerce, payment and security requirements for PS3 and Vita. It does not, by itself, announce that PS3 Remote Play has been discontinued. Keep the questions separate: whether a game can be bought or downloaded, whether it launches on the PS3, whether that title supports Remote Play, and whether a particular network connection still works.
Quick Recap
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