The PlayStation Portal gaming device has been on the shelves for quite some time - almost a year ago - and has received a bunch of software updates since then. I want to tell you about the user experience of using this device.
PlayStation Portal is a somewhat unexpected but interesting move from Sony. This is not a full-fledged portable console, but a device for playing games remotely on your PlayStation 5. Before the release of the device, there were many rumors about a new full-fledged portable console from Sony, and there were a lot of people who wanted to play current games on the go, but if you want to play an AAA game with your PlayStation 5 not on the TV, but somewhere on the couch, bed, or even on the balcony, Portal is designed for that.
What is it?
Once upon a time, before the PlayStation 5 was announced, but after the experience of using the PlayStation 4 with a touchpad on the controller, there were fan concepts for a new gamepad where this panel was not just touch-sensitive, but also had a mini screen. At the time, it was a fantasy that no one expected to come true. But Sony went a step further and instead of a touchpad, they put a full-fledged touchscreen in their new, already cool gamepad.
PlayStation Portal is basically DualSense with familiar ergonomics and all the features on board. Therefore, adaptive triggers and tactile vibration are present. This keeps the immersion in the game when using this remote player at the same level as with a standard controller.
And the familiar grip allows you to use it almost without getting used to it. The device has an 8-inch display with Full HD (1080p) resolution and a refresh rate of 60 Hz and, accordingly, is capable of displaying game images at up to 60 frames per second. This is quite impressive for gaming in portable mode. But it is important to understand the main thing - PlayStation Portal is not a standalone device, it is completely dependent on a console or cloud connection.
Who is this device for?
PlayStation Portal is primarily an addition to PS5. Therefore, I see it as another accessory, not a portable game console. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of criticism of the device from the perspective that it is a very stripped-down portable and not equal to the "competition". But Portal is positioned as a complement to the family of various accessories for the PlayStation 5, and is priced accordingly, in line with the same DualSense Edge.
So who is this thing with its strange positioning for? I have identified a couple of scenarios for using the PlayStation Portal.
First, if you share a TV with your family. When you want to play, but someone is already watching a TV series, PlayStation Portal will help you continue the game without arguments. Just pick it up and continue playing from where you left off. You don't even need to synchronize your saves, because the game is still running on the same PS5 that's sitting next to the TV.
Secondly, not all games need a big TV screen, even if it's not occupied by a video or TV series. So you can just play in another room while in bed, or watching the dumplings cook in the kitchen, or even in the bathroom. As another update, Sony has added the ability to play from WI-FI networks outside the home, you need to have a connection speed of at least 15 Mbps, and in some cases open ports for PSN in the home router settings.
Thirdly, with the latest update, the ability to play from the cloud instead of your home PlayStation 5 has been added. For now, a limited number of titles from the PS Plus Extra library are available. To use this feature, you need to have an active PS Plus Extra or Deluxe subscription and have an account in one of the selected regions. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not among them. The feature is still in Beta status, and hopefully, it will be available for Ukrainian players later.
Why do you need a separate device?
Many will say: "Why do I need it when I can play remotely from my phone/tablet/<your answer>...?"
Well, yes, you can do it on your phone, tablet, or Steam Deck, but there are a few things to consider. In PlayStation Portal, everything works in a couple of button clicks: you turn it on, connect to your PS5, and play. But with other options, you have to tinker with Bluetooth, connect a controller, run additional software, and it's not as fast or convenient. And here, in fact, you take a separate gamepad and launch the console with it, almost as usual. Only you don't wait for the picture to appear on the TV, but actually on a large gamepad in your hands.
Network settings and requirements
Everything is as simple as possible: 1. On PS5, go to the Remote Play settings and activate it. 2. Turn on Portal, log in to the same PSN account as on the console. 3. Portal will find your console and you're ready to play.
The PlayStation Portal system looks like a very simplified settings menu from the PlayStation 5 - after all, you can only connect to the console (and in some regions to the cloud) and change the main system settings.
For stable operation, you need Wi-Fi with a speed of at least 15 Mbps, as I mentioned earlier. A 5 GHz network works best. Surprisingly, PlayStation Portal only supports Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6, which could have improved Remote Play performance.
Also, to improve the experience and minimize artifacts and lag, you should connect your PlayStation 5 to your network via cable and prioritize traffic to both devices in your router settings. You can use QoS to do this if your router supports it, or there are alternatives available.
Experience and feelings in games
From the moment I first set it up, PlayStation Portal gave me only positive experiences and surprised me with its smooth operation. Without preliminary network settings, with only a wired PS5 console, the picture was quite clear, and the control sensitivity, although inferior to a conventional DualSense gamepad, was minimal. The only thing that brings us back to reality and confirms that miracles don't happen is that the frame rate on the screen of a portable device is slightly lower than it would be on a big screen.
Yes, the picture is duplicated to the PlayStation Portal screen, but you don't even need to connect the PlayStation 5 to the TV to play. I almost managed to complete the second playthrough of Dark Souls 2 in portable mode while I didn't have access to a TV or monitor. The only thing was that I didn't have access to network settings, so without priority for PlayStation Portal on the Wi-Fi network, sometimes there were picture friezes. But the controls remained responsive as usual.
On a home network, where you can control traffic distribution or simply turn off unnecessary Wi-Fi downloads, it works great. It is most comfortable to play titles that do not require a quick reaction or multiplayer games. After all, in this case, the traffic goes to the network game itself, and not just to Remote Play on the PlayStation Portal.
The most comfortable sessions are the ones where you have to do some not too strenuous game activities like exploring the world or completing small side missions. So, if you like to dust off question marks on an open-world map, this is the right game for you.
How does it work with PlayStation 5 Pro?
But with the transition to the PlayStation 5 Pro, the restrictions on the choice of genre and intensity of the gameplay have practically disappeared. You can fly into dynamic action games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Or leisurely driving a tractor across a field in Farming Simulator 25. I still wouldn't rush to run into fast-paced multiplayer games. But in the aforementioned Dark Souls 2, I managed to resist the players who invaded my world without any problems. Although it was possible even on a basic PS5.
Features and nuances
Remote Play is not a cloud. PlayStation Portal only works with what's on your PlayStation 5 and requires a stable connection to the console on your home network, or separate settings outside of your home Wi-Fi.
Headphones via PlayStation Link. Standard Bluetooth headphones are not supported. The device has a 3.5 mm headset jack. However, for wireless sound, you will have to use a new technology in the Sony gaming ecosystem - PlayStation Link. The new Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore headsets support Link. They connect to the PS5 console via a USB dongle and to the PlayStation Portal directly, which is quite convenient. The decision to leave the PS5 Slim and Pro consoles without built-in support for PlayStation Link remains strange, given that they were released after the advent of this technology.
Battery life. The device lives on battery power for about 7-9 hours. This is a pretty good figure, considering the thickness and weight of only 520 grams.
Cloud gameplay. Cloud games are available only to PS Plus Extra or Premium subscribers, but there is a nuance here - this is a Beta and it is available only in a limited list of countries that does not include Ukraine.
Instead of a conclusion
PlayStation Portal is a niche product, but it is definitely not useless. It is ideal for those who do not always have access to a big screen but really want to prolong their gaming session. It will allow you to make your gaming space more flexible and mobile. Even when traveling, if you have good Wi-Fi, you can play on your home PS5 without having to carry it in a separate suitcase. And the ability to launch games from the PS Plus Extra library from the cloud greatly expands the use cases. We are waiting for this feature to appear for Ukrainian PSN users.
Sony took a risk with the creation of such a hybrid gadget, but for PlayStation 5 owners, Portal can be an ideal addition. Will it replace portable consoles? No, it won't. Will it make games more accessible? Definitely.