UPDATE: Oct. 4, 2023, 2:50 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to clarify that the PlayStation Portal can be played over any WiFi network (if it's strong enough), not just your home or local network, and to reflect its current availability at major retailers.
The PlayStation Portal Remote Player is now available for preorder at GameStop and through PlayStation Direct ahead of its long-awaited release on Wednesday, Nov. 15. It's priced at $199.99.
Sony originally teased details about the Portal back in May, when it was still dubbed "Project Q," before dropping a formal reveal in August. It marks the company's first-ever dedicated remote-play device.
How does the PlayStation Portal work?
The Portal is effectively a DualSense wireless controller that's been spliced in half by a small tablet. It features adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an 8-inch LCD screen with 1080p resolution at 60fps. It can play any game that's been installed on your PlayStation 5 console over WiFi, according to Sony's press release, making it ideal for households plagued by fights over who's hogging the TV.
That last point is important because it's what separates the Portal from handheld gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch: You can't use it without an existing PS5 and a WiFi connection. In other words, it's not a replacement for your console — it's an accessory for it.
The good news is that the Portal doesn't need to be hooked up to your home WiFi network (or even the same local network as your PS5) to work, meaning you can play it on the go while traveling. According to the experts at IGN, who hands-on tested the Portal in September, you just need to make sure the WiFi at your current location is strong enough to prevent latency issues.
Using the Portal isn't the only way to enjoy Remote Play with the PS5, but it is Sony's first swing at an all-in-one, streamlined device made specifically for it — and it's already proven to be quite popular: The Portal sold out at Amazon and Best Buy a few days after both retailers put it up for preorder in late September. (What's more, orders were limited to one per person via PlayStation Direct at the time of writing.) We expect this to be a popular gift among PlayStation gamers this holiday season.
Editor's note: IGN is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis.
Topics PlayStation
