Sony Transforms PlayStation Portal into the Handheld Streaming Device We've Been Awaiting
The PlayStation Portal, a new cloud-streaming device from Sony, has been launched at a price point of $200, with an additional $160 required for a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription. This new device joins the ranks of handheld PCs like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and Asus ROG Ally X, which are considered some of the best ways to play games on the go.
The PlayStation Portal update, which started rolling out to users on Tuesday, has transformed the device into a cloud-streaming device. With a solid internet connection, games can be streamed at 1080p and 60 FPS directly to the PlayStation Portal. However, it's important to note that a minimum of 7 Mbps is required for 720p streaming, and 13 Mbps for 1080p streaming.
PlayStation Plus subscribers can now play PS5 games over the internet with the PlayStation Portal. This service is currently in beta, and while the catalog is limited to around 120 games, popular recent titles are not yet available for streaming. PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can access the PlayStation Plus streaming catalog without a PlayStation 5 console. They also receive 100 GB of cloud storage for saving data.
In contrast, Microsoft is promoting its Xbox Game Pass on a wide range of devices, including Samsung's TVs, existing gaming handhelds, phones, and more. Microsoft is also improving its Xbox app for mobile devices. However, an Xbox handheld is still in the prototyping phase and may not be released for several years, if ever.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is close to releasing its long-awaited Switch 2. The makers of Xbox and PlayStation seem to have fallen behind the times in terms of handheld consoles, with Xbox promoting its ad campaign trying to convince users that anything and everything can be considered an Xbox.
It's worth mentioning that the PlayStation Portal does not support PS4 games or PS3 titles from the Classics collection. To connect to a PlayStation console to play games from other devices, the PlayStation Remote Play app is required.
As for the future, Sony has not publicly announced a specific schedule for rolling out its PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming service to users without a PlayStation 5 console. This leaves room for speculation and anticipation among gamers.
In conclusion, the PlayStation Portal offers an exciting new avenue for cloud gaming, but with a limited catalog and some popular titles missing, it remains to be seen how it will compete with other handheld devices in the market.
