Sony’s PlayStation Portal is priced at $199.99 and is up for grabs. Here’s everything you need to know, including release date, features, and more
Sony has unveiled its portable cloud gaming device, officially calling it PlayStation Portal. PlayStation Portal debuted earlier this year under the codename “Project Q,” and allows users to stream PS5 games on the go using Wi-Fi or mobile data.
The focus on Remote Play is intended to provide a versatile extension of the PS5 experience rather than a standalone console.
Article continues after ad
Sony confirmed in its announcement that the portal will launch in November 2023. With the introduction of PlayStation Portal, Sony is gearing up just in time for a strong holiday season powered by new mobile and environmental devices including the PS5 Slim console.
Those keen on gaming on the go can enjoy PS5 games on a dedicated Sony console designed specifically for cloud streaming.
Contents:
Where to buy playstation portal
You can get PlayStation Portal through Best Buy, as well as PlayStation Direct. The wireless device should arrive at other, more general retailers over the next few weeks.
Article continues after ad
Sony PlayStation Portal price
The Sony PlayStation Portal is priced at $199.99/€219.99/£199.99. This is in line with previous reports that the price of the console will be around $200.
This competitive price makes the PlayStation Portal less expensive than the Logitech G-Cloud gaming controller, at $349.99, and the Abxylute gaming controller retails for $229.
dexertoHowever, unlike the other two consoles mentioned above, PlayStation Portal’s reliance on the PS5 makes it unique, for better and worse.
Sony playstation portal release date
The Sony PlayStation Portal launched on November 15, 2023. According to the PlayStation Blog, the console is currently available for pre-order in the US, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Article continues after ad
Starting September 29, the PlayStation Portal Remote Player can be pre-ordered in the above countries as well as Canada and Japan.
The current idea is that Sony wants to launch this alongside the rumored PlayStation 5 Slim to get a healthy product refresh before the inevitable launch of the PS5 Pro. We’ll have to wait and see those announcements, as it’s just a rumor at the moment.
Sony PlayStation Portal specifications
SonySony has confirmed that the Portal will feature a vibrant 8-inch LCD display with 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. It will feature a 3.5mm headphone jack to allow users to connect a wired headset of their choice while streaming games on this portable console.
Article continues after ad
Since the Gateway won’t have Bluetooth connectivity, you may have to purchase a new PlayStation Link-compatible headset, which Sony also announced. This is a cost-cutting measure and may disappoint some users.
Sony claims that the portal will allow users to stream and play games installed on their PS5. This will require connecting your PS5 and gateway to a fast Wi-Fi network. PlayStation Portal will not be able to play PS VR2 games or support cloud streaming on PS5.
Article continues after ad
Based on what Sony revealed, we know you won’t be able to use PlayStation Portal to consume media. The console will not support local media playback. In terms of battery life, you can expect similar backup to the DualSense controllers, which are already less than stellar.
While the company has not revealed the chip powering PlayStation Portal, it is expected to ship with an ultra-low-power system on a chip (SoC), similar to Logitech’s G-Cloud and its Abxylute cloud gaming console, which is intended to play video feeds. Instead of any local games.
Article continues after ad
Wizard speculation
While we don’t expect Sony to skimp on costs, we do expect something closer in power levels to the Logitech G-Cloud than the Razer Edge. Which might not be a bad idea, considering that the humble Abxylute can deliver 1080p and 60fps via cloud gaming. There is a possibility that the portal will use Snapdragon’s new G-series chipset, designed for mobile gaming devices, which was just introduced.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates on eSports, gaming and more.
The Abxylute is powered by an MT8365 processor, which was released back in 2021. It can support DDR4 RAM, as well as eMMC storage. While we suspect that PlayStation Portal will have around 4GB of RAM, we expect Sony to try to one-up its Japanese rival with more powerful hardware.
Article continues after ad
In our testing of Logitech and Abxylute devices, we found that their Android app was the biggest criticism. When browsing Android with such low specifications, it may sometimes start to lag or stutter. However, all of this is canceled once you download the app. Sony has not announced whether the device will use Android to run PlayStation Portal.
Logitech has equipped its laptop with a Snapdragon 720G processor, which is technically superior to the Abxylute laptop but is still a few years old. However, the SoC would not be of much importance due to the design intentions of the device itself.
Article continues after ad
a screen
Sony has confirmed that the portable PlayStation Portal will feature a 1080p, 60Hz, 8-inch display. This links to reports from Insider Gaming. The display technology is rumored to be a regular LCD with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
As long as the chip on the board can support a high-speed Wi-Fi connection — preferably Wi-Fi 6E — and deliver a high-quality image, it will have done its job.
Based on leaked shots of an early design of the device, it appears that early display information was about to specify the size. However, we are yet to see games actually running on the device at the time of writing.
Article continues after ad
Wifi
Sony has confirmed that PlayStation Portal will work on Wi-Fi. We expect the Sony PlayStation Portal to use Wi-Fi 6E to maintain the best wireless standard at the moment. It doesn’t make sense for Sony not to support the new standard, because low-level internet connections could make the experience of using the device extremely miserable.
However, with the PS5 supporting Wi-Fi 6 internally, we’re guessing Sony will equip the PlayStation Portal with the same technology.
Article continues after ad
Will the Sony PlayStation Portal support other streaming services?
SonySony PlayStation Portal will not support other streaming services out of the box. We don’t know yet which operating system PlayStation Portal will support. Assumptions might lead us to believe it’s based on Android – Sony’s mobile and TV brands use it – but it could end up being a fork of the PS5 OS instead or something entirely new.
The PS5 currently runs a heavily customized version of FreeBSD, a clone of the original Unix operating systems. According to some open source credits, it currently runs FreeBSD 11. The PS3 and PS4 also ran it, highlighting the XMB interface.
Article continues after ad
If Sony decides to load PlayStation Portal with a FreeBSD version, it could slow down home builders looking to open it up for use with other platforms.
However, if there is a web browser included with PlayStation Portal, this could be an opportunity for Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now to make their way into the system.
Will the Sony PlayStation Portal be a Vita 2?
No, as far as we know, the Sony PlayStation Portal will be cloud-portable and not a dedicated handheld like the Vita.
Article continues after ad
Be sure to also check out our other guides:
Best PS5 Controllers | Best Mobile Games to Play in 2023 | Best Gaming Keyboards | Best CPU for Gaming | Best controller for pc | Best gaming desk on a budget | Best Power Bank for Steam | Best 1440p display for PS5 | Best Gamecube controller for Switch and PC
If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.
If you’re in the market for a Sony PlayStation Portal, you’ve come to the right place. With its cutting-edge technology and immersive gaming experience, the PlayStation Portal is a must-have for any serious gamer. In this article, we will explore where to buy the PlayStation Portal, its price, features, availability, and more. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup or are simply curious about the latest in gaming technology, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to make an informed decision. So, let’s dive in and explore everything you need to know about the Sony PlayStation Portal.