Sony’s PlayStation Portal remote player is a Wii U like controller for PS5
Sony finally revealed the details of its oft-rumored PlayStation Portal remote player. The device is not a traditional handheld but a “remote player” that uses the PlayStation 5’s Remote Play streaming technology to allow players to experience PS5 games in a new way.
Being more a streaming device than a true portable, the PlayStation Portal shares more in common with Nintendo’s Wii U controller than true handheld. With that said, it does its best to bring as much of the PlayStation 5 experience with it. The PlayStation Portal comes with the same features found in the PS5’s DualSense controller, including its innovative adaptive triggers.
All the controls are where they would be on a DualSense controller as well save for the touchpad, which has been replaced with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen. The screen runs at 60hz for up to 60fps gaming at 1080p—no 4k, but that’s to be expected for a screen this small.
As for the price, the PlayStation Portal remote player will retail for $199.99 (about Php 11,300) when it launches later this year. (Read: PlayStation 5 Pro reportedly in development)
The price is well below that of most standalone gaming handhelds, such as the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, save for one—the Nintendo Switch Lite. The latter also retails for $199.99 and does not need a separate console to play games.
On the other hand, PlayStation 5’s Remote Play already works with other devices, including PCs as well as smartphones and tablets on Android and iOS. This means that the PlayStation Portal remote player’s only unique selling point is its integration of the features of the DualSense controller—something that other Remote Play devices
Whether or not there’s enough customers looking for that kind of experience is something we’ll find out when PlayStation Portal launches later this year.
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