Tag: PlayStation Portal

  • PlayStation Portal Handheld Gets Praise as Strong Seller by Sony CEO

    PlayStation Portal Handheld Gets Praise as Strong Seller by Sony CEO

    Key Takeaways

    1. The PlayStation Portal is a specialized accessory for PS Remote Play, not a standalone console, but it’s reportedly selling well despite initial doubts.
    2. Sony’s gaming console sales, including the PS5, are declining, while the portable gaming market is growing, contributing to the Portal’s appeal.
    3. Approximately 980,000 PlayStation Portals are estimated to have been sold among PS5 owners by the end of 2024, showing higher-than-expected demand.
    4. The Portal could generate more revenue for Sony, especially as the PS6 release is not expected until 2027 or 2028.
    5. Future developments may include a PS6 handheld that runs PS5 games natively, enhancing Sony’s presence in the portable gaming market.

    When the PlayStation Portal first launched, it got some flak for being a specialized product focused on PS Remote Play. Instead of being a standalone console, it was introduced as an accessory that streamed games from the PS5. Despite the initial doubts, Sony’s President and CEO Hiroki Totoki recently hinted that it’s selling well. As the gaming company continues to enhance the Portal, it will stay a key focus for them.

    Difficult to Classify

    The PlayStation Portal remote player doesn’t actually run games from its own storage, making it hard to define. Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t shared exact revenue figures like they do for their regular consoles. They did announce that the PS5 has sold 77.8 million units, but it’s clear that sales growth has slowed. Data from Circana shows that console sales from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are on the decline. However, the portable gaming market is on the rise, which might be why the Portal is appealing to some.

    Rising Popularity

    Circana has also been keeping an eye on U.S. statistics that indicate the Portal’s increasing appeal. By the end of 2024, the company reported that four percent of PS5 owners have bought the device. With 24.54 million PS5s sold that same year, this suggests that around 980,000 Portals have likely been purchased by gamers. Although most PlayStation users don’t own the accessory, it has surpassed the expectations of analyst Mat Piscatella.

    The PlayStation Portal could bring in more revenue for Sony in the coming years. The PS6 might not hit the market until 2027 or 2028. Plus, the handheld is starting to make a name for itself in the cloud gaming space. Currently in beta, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can stream select games from the service’s library without needing a PS5. Still, the Portal remains a comfortable way to enjoy console gaming anywhere at home.

    Future Prospects

    Given current market trends, Sony might also focus on launching the speculated PS6 gaming handheld. This portable console is expected to run PS5 games natively, although with some performance trade-offs.

    Source:
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  • Sony PS5 Rental Service Launches in the UK from £11/month

    Sony PS5 Rental Service Launches in the UK from £11/month

    Key Takeaways

    1. Sony has partnered with Raylo to offer PS5 consoles, PlayStation Portal, and PS VR2 headset rentals in the UK.
    2. Rental packages include the standard retail items, with options for single or multiple controllers depending on the PS5 model chosen.
    3. Renting is suitable for short-term use, but longer rental periods may approach the cost of buying a new console.
    4. Customers have a 14-day cancellation window, after which a fee applies, and there are policies for wear-and-tear on the rented items.
    5. The service is available online for UK residents, and customers can combine it with third-party game rentals like Boomerang Rentals.

    Sony has teamed up with Raylo, a tech leasing company, to provide PS5 consoles, the PlayStation Portal, and the PS VR2 headset for rent in the UK.

    What’s Included?

    When you rent, you’ll receive the typical retail package. The PS5 Slim Digital Edition can come with either one or two DualSense controllers. However, if you opt for the PS5 Pro or the Disc Edition, you will need to rent extra controllers for multiplayer gaming.

    Pricing Details

    Here’s a breakdown of the costs for the three PS5 models:

    – PS5 Digital Edition (single controller)
    – PS5 Console (disc version)
    – PS5 Pro

    This rental service is quite useful if you plan to use a PlayStation only for a limited time and don’t expect to play it much later. It’s also a good option if you’re uncertain about making a purchase.

    Considerations for Renting

    However, beyond these situations, there’s a catch: while the rates decrease for longer rental periods, the total expense can quickly approach the price of buying a brand-new console. For instance, renting the PS5 Digital Edition with one controller (currently $459 on Amazon in the US and £386.45 in the UK) on a 36-month lease actually costs more by the 32nd month.

    Although this isn’t true for all models, the other options become so close in price that it’s smarter to buy, especially since you could potentially sell it later and recoup some of your investment.

    Subscription Terms

    You have a 14-day window to cancel your subscription, but after that, a cancellation fee applies. Raylo also offers a fair wear-and-tear policy. Minor scratches, dents, and discoloration are acceptable, but more serious issues like cracks will result in repair fees.

    This rental option is accessible to residents in the UK through the PlayStation and Raylo websites. Interested customers might also want to pair this service with a third-party game rental like Boomerang Rentals in the UK, which provides physical game rentals via mail.

    Source:
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  • Sony Developing Handheld Console for Native PS5 Game Play

    Sony Developing Handheld Console for Native PS5 Game Play

    A previous speculation suggested that Sony was closely monitoring the handheld console scene after the Steam Deck achieved great success. Although Sony did release the PlayStation Portal, it’s not really a direct rival to the many Windows-based consoles available today. Now, a report from Bloomberg reinforces the idea of Sony possibly re-entering the handheld gaming market.

    Sony’s Future Plans

    Sony’s concept “builds on” the PS Portal and aims to allow players to enjoy PlayStation 5 games while traveling. Of course, this project is still in the initial phases of development, so it likely won’t be available for some time. Creating a handheld device that can deliver PS5-level graphics will require significant advancements in technology that simply aren’t ready yet.

    Technical Challenges Ahead

    To begin with, high-bandwidth memory will be necessary to supply the GPU with data efficiently. This might be somewhat addressed with LPDDR6 modules. Then there’s the challenge of finding a CPU and GPU combination that can produce PS5-quality graphics without excessive power consumption. A Zen 4/Zen 5 along with a UDNA chip could potentially make this happen, but that won’t be anytime soon.

    Additionally, for Sony and AMD to succeed, they will need access to TSMC’s advanced manufacturing processes. Traditionally, AMD has lagged by one node, so if that trend continues, they might not have access to TSMC N2 until 2026, which could set the stage for a 2027 launch. All these elements, along with AI image upscaling techniques like PSSR, should make the concept feasible, at least in theory.

    Developer Support Challenges

    However, there’s also the hurdle of developer backing. Game studios will have to release toned-down versions of their titles to function on the PlayStation handheld, complicating the entire process. Ideally, Sony would benefit from positioning this device as a companion to the PlayStation 6. This separation actually makes sense, as it provides two distinct ways for users to engage with the same games.

    An earlier statement from Phil Spencer of Xbox indicated that Microsoft is also developing a handheld console that is “a few years away.” There’s a strong possibility that both devices could launch within weeks of each other, escalating the competition in the console market. Plus, we can’t forget about the Steam Deck 2, which has been said to not be launching soon, but Valve could disrupt Sony and Microsoft’s plans with its next-generation handheld.

    Source: Link

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  • Sony PlayStation Portal Update Improves Features and Performance

    Sony PlayStation Portal Update Improves Features and Performance

    The PlayStation Portal (PS Portal) has been available for over a year now. However, many would say that Sony’s comeback in the handheld gaming market lacked essential features when it first launched. For example, the company didn’t offer the ability to connect the PS Portal (currently $199 on Amazon) to public Wi-Fi networks requiring web browser authentication until mid-June.

    Significant Update for Users

    Recently, Sony introduced what might be the most important update for the device so far. This isn’t just our perspective; even Sony has acknowledged that this is a change "that many fans have been asking for." Specifically, the new update finally brings support for cloud streaming in 1080p at 60 FPS, a feature that has been surprisingly absent since the Portal was first released.

    Subscription Requirement

    However, there are some things to keep in mind. Cloud streaming necessitates a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, which costs $159.99 per year. Nevertheless, this new feature allows users to stream PlayStation 5 games without the need of having a dedicated console. It’s worth noting that Sony is currently only offering this as a beta version for now.

    Additional Changes

    Along with this update, the Portal’s minimum volume has been decreased. Additionally, users can now adjust PlayStation Link device settings directly from the Portal. For further information, check out Sony’s latest post on the PlayStation Blog.

    Source: Link,Link,Link,Link

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  • PlayStation Portal Launches in India: Remote Play Console at Rs 18,990

    PlayStation Portal Launches in India: Remote Play Console at Rs 18,990

    Sony introduced the PlayStation Portal last year as a Remote Player for its PlayStation 5 gaming console. The company has now launched this handheld device in the Indian market. The PlayStation Portal allows you to play PS5 games using your home Wi-Fi and aims to deliver a console-level experience in a portable design.

    Sony PlayStation Portal Specifications

    The handheld device resembles a DualSense controller with an 8-inch LCD screen attached. It can connect to a PlayStation 5 effortlessly and remotely power on the console with a single button press. Users can then enjoy their favorite games on this device with minimal lag. The PlayStation Portal connects to your home Wi-Fi, enabling console gaming without the need for a TV.

    PlayStation Portal Features

    The display boasts a Full HD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. It supports both PS5 and PS4 games (as long as they are running on a PS5). However, the Portal does not support VR-specific games, games requiring additional peripherals, or PS Plus Premium streamed games. Similar to the standard DualSense Wireless controller, the handheld features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Note that your PS5 must be powered on or in Rest Mode to pair with the Remote Player.

    Pricing and Availability

    Sony’s PlayStation Portal Remote Player is priced at 18,990 INR (approximately 227 US Dollars). It will be available for purchase starting from 3rd August 2024. You can buy this device from Sony Centers, Flipkart, Amazon, Vijay Sales, Reliance, Croma, BlinkIt, and other partnered retailers.

    Last year, I wrote an article about the PlayStation Portal, diving deeper into this handheld. Some features were unclear, and I hoped for PlayStation Plus support on this device, but that does not appear to be the case.

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