Introducing PlayStation Portal, the new proposal from Sony PlayStation. If there is one certainty in the video game industry, it is that no matter what Nintendo does, Sony will always copy them. We already saw it with the analog joysticks of the Nintendo 64 and those of the PlayStation 1, with the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Move and many other examples. But there is nothing wrong with this. If Nintendo manages to innovate in the industry, it is logical that other companies apply that innovation to their products. And Portal is the new example of this, as it is an interesting portable device that transforms your PlayStation 5 into something similar to a Nintendo Switch.
PlayStation Portal transforms your PS5 into a Nintendo Switch!
Although it had been previously revealed, Sony has just released new information about this device on different social networks, including its official name: PlayStation Portal. In this Instagram video, we can see it in action. In the description of it, Sony boasts about its technical features: haptic response, adaptive triggers, an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen and the ability to run games at up to 60 frames per second. At least it maintains the features of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense Controller, which is one of the best controllers on the entire market. We can see images of Astro’s Playroom (a game that comes bundled with all PS5s) running on the device and it looks pretty good.
However, there is something very important to keep in mind, and that is that PlayStation Portal works as an extension of the PlayStation 5, not as a replacement. This means that it connects to the console via Wi-Fi and will need to be kept relatively close to the console to work properly. Portal is a product meant to be played anywhere in your home, especially if someone else needs to use the TV, but it will be nearly impossible to take it everywhere. Although many compare it to the Nintendo Switch, this reminds us more of the functionality of the Nintendo WiiU’s GamePad controller.
Because of these restrictions, the PlayStation Portal was not so well received by Sony fans on social media, especially those who want the company to re-enter the handheld market. The PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita were technical marvels that PlayStation fans loved to use, but constant changes in the industry forced Sony to leave those types of products in the past. Many would rather they develop another handheld console like the PSP or Vita, rather than release a hybrid product that falls by the wayside like Portal.
However, this is still a pretty interesting handheld device that could be handy for a lot of users who need it. PlayStation Portal will be available from November 15, 2023 at a price of $200. What do you think? Are you going to try it out?
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