Introducing the PlayStation Portal
Sony have finally released more details on their upcoming handheld device, formerly known as the Project Q, but now officially named PlayStation Portal.
It’s been quite a few years since PlayStation were present in the handheld market and it was somewhat surprising when their new device was announced earlier in the year.
Fans were left divided post-announcement as the minimal information given suggested that the new system was designed for streaming purposes only. We now know for certain that the PlayStation Portal is a dedicated Remote Play device, meaning that it will only be useable when connected to your PlayStation 5 console via WiFi and games will be streamed at up to 1080p resolution at 60fps. It’s worth noting that this doesn’t have to be the same WiFi network.
Features of the PlayStation Portal
As mentioned above, the device will not run any native games and is designed for streaming purposes only, requiring a stable connection to a WiFi connection at all times. This does not have to be the same WiFi network that the PlayStation 5 console is connected to.
To put it simply, the PlayStation Portal is effectively a DualSense controller cut in half with a large screen sandwiched in-between. The device has all of the DualSense features that we’ve come to love, such as the innovative adaptive triggers and immersive haptic feedback.
The screen is a rather large 8” LCD display offering up to 1080p resolution at 60fps. Many fans are disappointed that Sony didn’t opt for an OLED display, however that certainly would have increased the price point, which you’ll find a bit later in the article.
Who is it aimed at?
Sony have officially confirmed their target audience in their most recent blog post regarding the new tech. As per the article, “PlayStation Portal is the perfect device for gamers in households where they might need to share their living room TV or simply want to play PS5 games in another room of the house”.
It is a niche audience and certainly won’t appeal to everybody, but there is definitely a corner of the market that is excited for this streaming device and can’t wait to get their hands on it.
How much will it cost?
Now, on to the major factor which will determine whether many people will purchase the product – the price.
We finally have figures, as per PlayStation’s blog post on the subject. As per the article, “PlayStation Portal remote player will launch later this year for 199.99 USD | 219.99 EURO | 199.99 GBP | 29,980 YEN. We’ll have more details soon on when pre-orders begin for PlayStation Portal”.
Summary
Finally, we have more information on PlayStation’s dedicated Remote Play device launching later this year. Dates have not been announced thus far but expect to see this hit shelves just in time for the Christmas holidays.
To summarise the information in the article, it has been condensed into bullet points below:
- PlayStation Portal will be a streaming only device, requiring a stable WiFi connection. Must be connected to your PlayStation 5 console.
- Has all the DualSense features, including adaptive triggers, haptic feedback and more.
- The screen is an 8” LCD display capable of running games at 1080p resolution at 60fps.
- Target audience is gamers in households where they might need to share the TV or simply just want to be able to play in any room of the house.
- The price is 199.99 USD | 219.99 EURO | 199.99 GBP | 29,980 YEN.
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