While console rivalries have been described as wars since the dawn of gaming, Sony isn’t picking a fight with Nintendo or Valve with the release of the PlayStation Portal in two weeks. The upcoming handheld device is meant to be a companion to the PlayStation 5 rather than a rival to the Switch or Steam Deck.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Senior Vice President Eric Lempel talked to the BBC about the upcoming handheld and clarified that it was designed for a specific audience. The Portal will not be going head-to-head with Nintendo or Valve’s handhelds.
“It’s a different proposition and really just something unique for the PlayStation audience,” Lempel said of the Portal. The Portal isn’t a standalone handheld device and requires players to own a PlayStation 5 to use it. The handheld accessory uses an internet connection instead of cables or Bluetooth to communicate with the PS5. The home console will send the game to the handheld via the internet.
Lempel also confirmed that the Portal isn’t a device that can stream games directly from PlayStation’s cloud gaming service. Many users have been disappointed that the handheld can’t access cloud gaming directly, and are questioning the point of the gadget entirely.
The Sony exec did suggest that the PlayStation Portal would benefit gamers who would want to play games while a partner watches TV. The Portal can also be used to play games in a different room or even outside the house.
Lempel confirmed that the Portal can be used outside the home to play games but only if there is a strong internet connection. This means that the handheld won’t be a good travel companion if you are traveling by rail or by air.
Even with the PlayStation Portal’s limited capability, it seems that the demand for the device is very high. Pre-orders for the handheld started in late September and quickly sold out in the US and Japan. As of writing, the Portal is still available for pre-order on PlayStation’s storefront. However, players are limited to just one device during the pre-order period due to high demand for the handheld.
Along with the PlayStation Portal, Sony also announced the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds. The accessory is the only Bluetooth headphone that is compatible with the PlayStation Portal. The Pulse Explore is coming in early December, several weeks after the release of the Portal.
The PlayStation Pulse Explore features a seamless connection to PlayStation devices, mobile phones, or PC. The earbuds are equipped with an AI-enhanced microphone that helps isolate a player’s voice against background noise. The Pulse Explore also supports 3D Audio for PS5 games and has a five-hour battery life.
Will the PlayStation Portal be a worthwhile purchase? It really depends on the use case. If you have a dedicated TV for your PS5 or do not play video games elsewhere then it won’t be for you. As a PS5 owner, the prospect of playing games anywhere in the house or outside is extremely exciting. It is also relatively inexpensive and you don’t really need to fork out additional money to buy games separately.
Both the PlayStation Portal and PlayStation Pulse Explore are priced at $199.99 and are available for pre-order.
