Summary
The new PlayStation handheld device, formerly known as Project Q, has been namedPlayStation Portal, and it will be available for $199.99 later this year. As the first PlayStation handheld device in over a decade, there was some expected backlash whenPlayStation Portalwas first announced.
While the PlayStation Vita didn’t sell all that well, the PSP was very popular in its day. This has created a desire among some fans to see PlayStation return to the handheld market.PlayStation Portal is technically a handheld gaming device, but the reason it wasn’t met with open arms from fans is that it’s not a dedicated, standalone handheld system. Its purpose is to remote play PlayStation 5 games, kind of like a Wii U Gamepad.
RELATED:Sony’s Project Q Handheld Has Been in the Works Since at Least 2015
The PlayStation Portal’s limited functionality may cause many gamers to disregard it out of the gate, but there could very well be some out there that want to stream games from their PS5 to a handheld. The device includes all the fancy gimmicks found in the PS5 DualSense controller, and boasts an 8-inch LCD screen that supports 1080p resolution and up to 60fps. After connecting the PlayStation Portal to a PS5 over Wi-Fi, gamers will be able to stream most of the console’s games to the handheld, minus PlayStation VR2 titles or games that are beingstreamed through PS Plus Premium. For some, these features will justify PlayStation Portal’s $199.99 price point.
Unfortunately, arelease date for the PlayStation Portalstill has yet to be announced, so interested gamers will have to wait for more information on that front. It’s expected that the PlayStation Portal will launch later this year, though, so one has to imagine that its release date will be announced sooner rather than later. The only question is if it will be the only new PlayStation device to release in 2023.
Persistent rumors have claimed that a PS5 revision of some kind will also be launching this year, though such a device has yet to be announced in any official capacity.Referred to as the PS5 Slim, the new console is expected to be a slightly smaller PS5. Some reports claim that it will even have a detachable disc drive. Time will tell if there’s any truth to those rumors. In the meantime, fans can look forward to the PlayStation Portal, and keep their fingers crossed that it could potentially lead to a proper new PlayStation handheld one day.
