Everything You Need To Know About PlayStation Portal

Sony just announced something called “PlayStation Portal.” Is it a new Portal game exclusive to PlayStation? No, it’s actually that weird “remote play” controller the company showed off earlier, just with a finalized name. Perhaps to keep things from being confusing, we should refer to it by its initials: “PSP.” ….No, wait….

The PlayStation Portal is a PS5 controller cut in half with an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen stuck in the middle. It is NOT a dedicated handheld, but a streaming device that beams the data from your PS5 into itself, allowing you to play your games when the TV isn’t on or switched to another channel. That was the main gimmick of the Wii U and that didn’t help it much, so what else does the PlayStation Portal have going for it?

Well, it IS possible to use the PlayStation Portal when you’re away from your PlayStation. It can tune itself into your PS5’s signal as long as you left the PS5 on at home and the Portal is in a place that can access wi-fi. It’s up to you to find a reliable source of wi-fi to use it on the go. A moving vehicle would be the most difficult, unless you have a car new enough to include wi-fi as an option. The bus, forget it, unless your cell phone can emit a wi-fi hotspot strong enough to support the stream.

So it’s kinda limited in what you can do with it, but at least the price is about right: $200. Considering the price of a PS5 controller AND the price of LCD screens together, it’s a fair deal for those interested in its niche of a function. Preorders are still not open for the PlayStation Portal, but they should be soon, as it’s expected to launch this fall.