PlayStation's brand-new console is getting shockingly good reviews

PlayStation’s new handheld console, the PlayStation Portal, has made it into the hands of reviewers, and apparently, it’s pretty good.

[Jin_Sakai]

If this was a proper Sony handheld with an OLED display I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

[ModsDoBetter]

Agreed.
£200 for this is a bit much.

[TiredGamer]

Have a feeling that people's concept of the time value of money takes a very long time to catch up. As has been stated by Sony, their goal with this accessory is less of a source of direct profit and more of a way to increase engagement for a growing generation of gamers that don't have the desire or luxury to sit in front of their TVs all the time. This accessory has the potential to indirectly increase profits by making PS5 gaming more convenient and accessible to the players.

I spend my weekends away from home. This has the potential to be a great tool to retain access to my PS5 all 7 days of the week. If it works as well as it seems it can (with potential cloud streaming in the future), it will be a success.

See it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.

[StormSnooper]

I like it for playing strategy/puzzle/platformer style gaming. I wont be playing the beautiful blockbuster style games on it as thats for my OLED TV.

But I’ll playing this instead of my phone.

[Notellin]

Yeah for people with not much going on and lack responsibilitiy for other people this item might not make much sense but you don't represent everyone.

[ModsDoBetter]

Yeah for people with not much going on and lack responsibilitiy for other people this item might not make much sense but you don't represent everyone.

So because I don't want to pay £200 for something my phone already does and then some, I don't have "much going on" and "lack responsibility"? 😂 That's a lot of assumptions and hate all becasuse I don't want to buy a product hahaha. Ponies are literally the most toxic fans. You don't know a damn thing about my personal life. Furthermore you don't represent everyone either, clown.

[Flakegriffin]

@olmyerslo

I was on your side until you dropped “ponies” into your argument.

Now I believe you were never interested in it in the first place and your response becomes invalid. Do better.

[shinoff2183]

Shit this is the direction ms is going. Stop making consoles so people can play on phone like devices or straight from their TV. Screw that

[Vengeance1138]

So what exactly would be your solution for the "proper" Sony handheld to play all the exact same games as PS5 with it keeping progress and everything without the need for studios to waste resources on watered down portable versions?

While also requiring the use of the PS5 system itself so you don't divide the user base?

[ModsDoBetter]

They could've just added the ability to utilise your PS Plus subscription and stream games?

[SegaSaturn669]

I'd offer up a steamdeck type machine that could run as a portable ps4 essentially.

[Eonjay]

@oIMyersIo

It has been revealed that they are rolling out their services in two steps. The first step is Remote Play and the Next will be cloud implementation. He doesn't give a date, but I suspect that we may see this by March of next year.

You ate not the only person wanting cloud added. Waiting the nextra 4 months will pay dividends because not only will Remote play issues be patched out, but Cloud Streamins should be launched to Portal around this time as well.

[darthv72]

I chose to get this over the Logitech G-Cloud mainly because it was half the price. I may still get the G as I have been seeing them go on sale. i like that the G can do XB, PS, and PC streaming and side load other apps as it is Android based. The Portal is also Android based, so that could mean someone will crack it and be able to do other streaming like xcloud or nvidia shield stuff. And then it will be the best there is because it will still have been cheaper than the G.

Honestly, it was the lack of proper steam deck apps that made me go this route. I know there are open source stuff but I tend to not want to risk bricking my system with unofficial apps. I already enabled xcloud support through the edge browser and that was an official MS process. Why they dont just make a proper xcloud app for steam deck is beyond me. It certainly would make things easier for GP Ultimate users if they did. Same with a PS app. If they did that, then i wouldnt have needed to buy this. I would still do it anyway if they did as I'm a whore for new tech.

Sorry... that was a tad off topic.

[crazyCoconuts]

Chiaki is quite low risk for Steam Deck. I'm sure you already know, but Valve embraces customizing - you can even find Chiaki via the native package manager.
I'm sure Portal is better than Chiaki, but either way if I have a local Steam/Epic game that I can play I'll pick that over remote play because it works every time and as soon as I hit the power button.
I agree about having native steam apps to do this would be better. Maybe valve will come up with a community plug-in capability to make it more seamless in the future.

[Babadook7]

“If this was a proper Sony handheld with an OLED display I’d buy it in a heartbeat.“

I disagree, but this product is not for me at the moment. I’d sooner buy one than use my iPhone 14 Pro and a controller. I’m glad Sony didn’t make a Vita 2 requiring them to develop software. They aren’t that stupid though. Nintendo has that market locked by going all in on it. This was a great idea and can’t really fail because it requires no effort from devs. The Xbox guys sure hate it though.

[Eonjay]

Even Nintendo gave up on creating two different systems with two different lists of software. They have one system that can be play in docked and portable on the same software. This is equivalent to that approach.

I prefer this because I already own hundreds of games on PS4/PS5. It is more useful to me to be able to take these same games and play them in a portable mode.

[Babadook7]

@Eonjay

Yes exactly. Spitting your developers into 2 is very tough, too tough even for Nintendo or Sony. Sony doubled down on their successful home console. Nintendo doubled down on 'portable' in an opposite but equivalent way. It's just the smart way to compete.

[VincentVanBro]

Amen brother, dying for a true modern PSP

[seanpitt23]

A proper handheld would be £450 plus

[ModsDoBetter]

Based on what exactly?
PSVita was $250 dropped to $200.

[seanpitt23]

Based on the technology what people would expect from Sony 1440p oled screen power house GPU and CPU for handheld that can run modern games similar to PS4 pro levels it would cost a lot don't expect the switch 2 to be lower than $400

[jznrpg]

I would buy a dedicated handheld for sure. Unfortunately that has its own set of problems mostly first party support and what that means for first party ps5 games. But I also bought the Portal to gain extra playtime when I can’t be on the TV mostly family reasons. Both have a place I’d buy both but a dedicated device would probably be 2-300$ more and need first party support. I’m hoping Portal being a success could get them to try a dedicated device again but this is the next best thing.

[kayoss]

Just got this in the mail yesterday. Charged it up and gave it a try. I have to say, it's very good. I played Final Fantasy 7 remake on it and it felt like you're using the dualsense. Im an avid Destiny 2 player and we all know how shooters on a handheld can feel clunky at times but this thing works great while playing Destiny 2. The only issue i had while playing destiny 2, its hard to see enemies that are far away. Planning to use it during the holidays when im on vacation,. Will let you guys know how it work when youre on a different network.

[blackblades]

Lol shocking, it wasn't shocking to me. Its doing what it was build for, nothing more and nothing less. People need to stop the whining and move on. Funny how something like this hurt so many people when it doesnt even effect them at all.

[ModsDoBetter]

People can be disappointed that a device doesn't suit their needs or is underwhelming in their opinion, the same way people praise it for suiting their needs or exceeding their expectations.

I was all for this when it was announced but the lack of Bluetooth and Sony taking an anti-consumer approach once again with headsets, locking you in to their £200 earbuds or £150 headset, both of which aren't even out yet, left a bad taste. (Yes, you can use a 3.5mm jack but for the likes of wireless audio, this is a bad move).

[MrNinosan]

I'm so mad that my car can't fly or get invisible. Now I will spread my dissapointment regarding this and hope olMyerslo will support my concern.

[ModsDoBetter]

Clearly the blind fanboy MrNinosan missed the point and has to use sarcasm to make himself feel better about his purchase whilst not even addressing my point directly. Typical N4G fanboy mentality, insults and jabs instead of discussion.

How dare anyone be disappointed in a product from Sony that had (and still has) confusing marketing, how dare they!? We must blindly follow Sony, and whenever there's another anti consumer move; we just bend over and ask for another. ❤️

[GamingSinceForever]

It’s not a bad move if it gets their earbuds and headsets to sell initially. Trust if they had Blue-Tooth day one no one and I mean no one would buy those ear buds when there are plenty of other options out there.

They will add it later down the line.

[derek]

@MrNinosan, hahahahahaha

[RedDevils]

Then they should shut the f up and don't buy the device if keep crying about it.

[Barlos]

But there's so many other devices out there that will probably do what they need it to do. Don't get hung up on this one thing. Nobody is being misled here. Sony never said it was anything other than a remote play device for the PS5. It's not a console, it's an accessory and was never advertised as anything more.

I will admit that the lack of Bluetooth is a disappointment, but for me personally, I never use headphones with my steam deck, so I don't expect to use them with the portal either - plus if I did, I have the pulse headset which is connected to my ps5 and I'll just use them. I believe even with the portal connected the sound should still output through them.

[ModsDoBetter]

As far as I can tell the only major disappointment is from Xbox fans who are disappointed it's selling really well

Who mentioned xbox fan?
It's wild that is always the defence of the Pony. Someone doesn't want to bend the knee, they must be an Xbox fan!

[VincentVanBro]

What's funny is that the criticism bothers you mate. Why don't you listen to your own argument:

"Funny how something like this hurt so many people when it doesnt even effect them at all."

Kinda applies to you here, eh?

[Inverno]

Who's hurt? The people talking about this thing being surprisingly well received and reviewed are just people who don't understand why people seem to find this an absolute necessity when remote play has been added to so many devices at this point. And instead you have fanboys being super butthurt over this and stating it's only Xbox fanboys whining. I'm not an Xbox fanboy and I'm still trying to understand why so many people seem to be so obsessed with this, and why they get so hurt when you don't have anything positive to say about it.

[ModsDoBetter]

Absolutely.
It would review well, it looks good and has solid build quality BUT I nust can't justify £200 for something that my phone already does with my dualsense connected. Slap on top of that some Sony anti-consumer flair in thr form of restricting wireless audio solely to Playstaion Link and you have a device that is very, very limited and a bit of a rip off for what it offers.

[shadowT]

Good reviews are now a bad thing? However, Playstation Portal is just a remote player for PS5, not a handheld console.

[Neonridr]

brand new console, interesting terminology..

[Abnor_Mal]

Not a console just an accessory, only problem I have so far is figuring out how to bring up the map and gadget screen for Spider-Man2 using the Portals touchscreen touch pad.

[MrNinosan]

Just touch one of the touch screens, either on bottom right or bottom left.
You talk like you have it, so you should know if you even tried.

[Abnor_Mal]

Actually it works by double tapping either one of the touch boxes.

Such hostility for nothing.

[ModsDoBetter]

"Such hostility for nothing."

Typical Ninosan, all those controllers can't buy braincells it seems. 😂

[z2g]

The bias is real. It’s a Wi-Fi only tablet with no Bluetooth and can’t run anything local or cloud based at all… if this was for Xbox it would be ridiculed left and right.

Engadget had it right. This is great device specifically for Sony diehards only. And this is coming from someone who loves buying new toys.

[crazyCoconuts]

It's hard to predict what we'd say if Xbox came out with it because...it doesn't seem like they're coming out with anything anymore.
In the time PS has released the PSVRs (both of them), Elite DualSense, Portal, new Headsets, and PS5 Slim, Xbox has released...what?

[Chevalier]

In that time Xbox has released 40 colour options for their controllers!

[darthv72]

...there IS one of these for Xbox. It is the Logitech G-Cloud. XB promotes it on their own site.
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

[ModsDoBetter]

"The bias is real"

Too true, when this was first announced, the pony party weren't too impressed but since they've had nothing really current gen aside from SpiderMan with Sony hardly even announing anything, of course they've got to cling on to this.

[Azanar]

According to Metacritic the reviews are mixed at best with 1 at 100, 5 @ 80 and 12 at 70 down to 50. They reference connection issues, blurry screen amongst other things.

Go to Metacritic and look up Reviews for Playstation Portal authored by Jason Dietz

[RNTody]

IT'S
NOT
A
CONSOLE

It's an accessory for fudge sake. And maybe it's doing well because it does exactly what it was advertised to do and does it well. You can remote play on a Tamagotchi, doesn't make it a good experience.

The only people shocked by this are those who never read the product page of the device to see who it's for.

[Futureshark]

Sony have only just introduced PS5 streaming to the PS5.

It'd been good if they'd introduced it at launch but it's only a update away.

[Juancho51]

What’s not to love?

[Gamer75]

The fact that it's not going to be available here in New Zealand and Australia until early February

[Gamer75]

For the people that don't believe me Sony themselves announced that it is going to release in New Zealand and Australia on the 2nd of February 2024 as you can only pre-order it right now so as you don't believe me perhaps go look it up for yourself

[RhinoGamer88]

Great at $99... not this price. See the Sony Console plates robbery prices.

[jznrpg]

A controller is 70$ so you want a 20$ screen? It would look like crap

[Juancho51]

Get a job?

[Tedakin]

If Xbox had released the exact same product, IGN woiuld have given it a 4. :)

[darthv72]

they actually gave it a 7...
https://www.ign.com/article...

And yes this is by logitech, but Ms promotes it on their site and it has all the native xb apps built in. They just didnt have to make one themselves when they can partner with someone who has one.

[Ninver]

No shock here. This will compliment the ps5 nicely. When the kid start acting up for Netflix, I'll jump onto the handheld. Everybody stays happy.

[mike32UK]

Seems like a decent price until you remember the vita launched with an OLED screen priced at £229...

[jznrpg]

That was 12 years ago and inflation has massively jumped since then.

[mike32UK]

OLED manufacturing costs have come down ALOT in that time, and this has far less smarts built in.

[VariantAEC]

PS Vita was really incredible for the time.
It can not play PS4 games natively never mind playing PS5 games and I'm not talking about playing cut-rate ports like Switch is currently doing.

I guess everyone forgets that PS Vita's OLED panel was also lambasted for poor contrast due to raised black levels. When the Vita's screen displays a black image, you see a mostly green or sometimes orange and or red or even more rarely, a blue tinged image instead of perfect black screen (no light) in a room with no light whether natural or man-made.

[Flewid638]

I just want the earbuds for my PS5

[hiawa23]

Why is this device getting good reviews shocking? I mean come on, it's in the PlayStation family so I expect it to do well for Sony. It does what Sony designed it to do which is play your PS5 games away from your TV. Did people think it would not be designed and received well by gamers who were interested in the device? I am fine with Logitech G-Cloud device for my remote play PS5 & Series X, cloud gaming but the Portal seems cool to me. My co-worker is bringing his to work tomorrow and we will compare how it performs compared to my device. The more options game makers can give gamers to enjoy their games, I am all for. This is a good move by Sony.

[HansyJ]

I’m finding my experience to be mixed, but overall good. When I first connect, it seems to be a bit laggy, but the longer I play the game the better it seems to get. At one point I was playing UFC five through the first round it was quite annoying to play, but by the time I hit the end of the fight in the third round, it honestly felt like I was just playing a native game. if it’s mostly consistent in that regard, then I’ll be satisfied and the screen is huge and looks great. It’s not all oled but it looks good.

[Starman69]

Shame the screen can't be used whilst playing ps5. Would have been excellent for rpg's or weapon select on various games 🤷🏻‍♂️

[purple101]

mini map on gt5/6. maps on platform games, lots of things, I've always thought this

[Stanjara]

While women watch a cooking show on a 55inch OLED... men hide next to their routers in the attic... playing as a bold female on a toy with a screen protector.

Ahhh 2024 can't come fast enough.

[Barlos]

Don't base everyone else on how you choose to live

[gold_drake]

not that shocking to me really

people are busy or have families. its great to have it

[Barlos]

This is the thing isn't it? People complaining that it's not this and it doesn't do that. I'd be willing to bet that most of those complaining never had an interest in buying it in the first place.

[Barlos]

Maybe because it does what it's supposed to do? Too many people are focused on what it can't do, instead of what it can do and was designed to do. In that respect it seems that it does what it's meant to do very well, so why shouldn't it get good reviews? Nothing "shocking" about it.

I'll find out for myself at Christmas. Looking forward to it!

[Fonsecap]

This is not a console, is it? I'm really asking because I think that a console must be able to natively play games...

[Barlos]

It's an accessory. Only the media seem to bill it as a console. Sony even named it a remote player. Doesn't sound like something a console would be called.

[Charlieboy333]

It isn't a console FFS.....it is a PS5 accessory

[VariantAEC]

Gaming press still misrepresenting and spreading invalid information the device despite having the entire thing in their hands instruction manual and all... typical.

[Xwin]

It's just a fancy controller nothing more nothing less, but sensationalism generates more views.

[garos82]

huge missed opportunity for not including an oled screen. i want a vita 2 dammit

[antikbaka]

don't want, don't care

[Barlos]

Want, care, getting.

[VariantAEC]

Why post?

[sero33]

I have been having some connection issues but when it works its a pretty great experience. love the hardware. the worst part is that this only makes me want a "real" playstation portable even more. would easily pay $500 to play all past playstation games and some sort of streaming/native option for ps5 games.