Sony just opened up a new gateway to constant gaming with the PlayStation Portal, its PS5 remote player. The handheld device is basically a 1080p screen grafted to the arms of Sony’s DualSense controller, and it’s available for preorder right now.
Sony’s PlayStation Portal links to your PS5 so you can keep gaming when using your TV is inconvenient.
The $200 PlayStation Portal has a Nov. 15 release date, perfectly timed for holiday shoppers. Those splurging for themselves, though, can use it to keep playing Baldur’s Gate 3, Spider-Man 2 and anything else their heart desires when the TV is inevitably taken over by the Thanksgiving and Black Friday NFL games (or the annual yule log video).
We mention using the PlayStation Portal when your TV is otherwise occupied because remote play requires connecting to the home Wi-Fi network your PS5 is on. Sony notes you’ll need broadband speeds of at least 5Mbps to play, with a recommendation of 15Mbps. Chatting with folks excited for its release, we’ve already heard about how the PlayStation Portal looks like the perfect way to level up in your favorite game while lying in bed.
As for other specs, its 8-inch LCD screen offers 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second. And if you love the DualSense controllers for their adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, know that the Portal offers those same perks. It just won’t support Bluetooth accessories, dropping that wireless standard for Sony’s new PlayStation Link technology. The company promises low-latency, lossless audio in its upcoming Pulse Explore earbuds and Pulse Elite headset. Cloud streaming isn’t supported either, so you’ll need to install games on your PS5 before playing them.
While third-party alternatives, such as a phone with a Backbone controller or the Razer Edge, exist, no competitor gives you the same feel of unified PS5 hardware. And for that reason alone, there’s reason to believe that many will buy early, leading to a revival of the PS5 restock situation we only recently exited. Sony, aware of such a potential issue, is limiting preorders to one per customer at its online store. We can’t wait to test the PlayStation Portal for ourselves, so stay tuned for our full review.
