Project Q Officially Announced As PlayStation Portal

Sony's latest handheld console, previously thought to be named Project Q, will hit the market under the PlayStation Portal label

Brace yourselves for the revelation that Sony has been building up to! Sony has finally taken the wraps off its handheld device's new identity.Project Q, as it was known in its developmental stages, is no more – the device has a fresh, official name now; PlayStation Portal. 

Introducing 🗣️

🔹PlayStation Portal remote player
🔹PlayStation Pulse Explore wireless earbuds
🔹PlayStation Pulse Elite wireless headset

First details at PS Blog: https://t.co/meD5OKkvlH pic.twitter.com/3xJQu7hEmj

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 23, 2023

PlayStation Portal Features

Sony is gearing up to make waves in the gaming industry with its imminent release of the PlayStation Portal remote player. This sleek and compact handheld console is slated to make its grand entrance later this year, promising a gaming experience like no other.

Featuring a cutting-edge eight-inch LCD screen, rendering games in crystal-clear 1080p resolution at a smooth 60fps, the PlayStation Portal is a true visual marvel. The best part? It comes with a wallet-friendly price of $199.99.

A Tribute to the Original PSP 

The acronym for the PlayStation Portal possesses an intriguing parallel, as its abbreviated form “PSP” mirrors that of its forerunner, the iconic PlayStation Portable, Sony's first-ever handheld console, which debuted in 2004.

The two diverge in their essence, however. The original PSP stood as a self-contained gaming platform, whereas the Portal emerges as an avant-garde concept, empowering devoted PS5 players to savor their treasured titles in a device that fits within the palm of their hand. 

PlayStation Portal Takes Sony Remote Play To New Heights

Credit: @PlayStation

The PlayStation Portal marks a notable expansion of Sony's earlier remote play initiative. This advancement permits you to seamlessly engage with your PS4 or PS5 games through your smart device, regardless of your location.

While the remote play app on smartphones laid the groundwork, it faced limitations when it came to mobility. The Portal steps in to bridge this gap, catering to diverse gaming scenarios and preferences.

“PlayStation Portal will connect remotely to your PS5 over Wi-Fi, so you’ll be able to swiftly jump from playing on your PS5 to your PlayStation Portal,” Hideaki Nishino, senior vice president of platform experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said about the company's latest handheld console. “PlayStation Portal can play supported games that are installed on your PS5 console and use the Dualsense controller.”

The PlayStation Portal's standout feature is its prominent controllers flanking each side, reminiscent of the highly acclaimed PS5 DualSense controllers.

These controllers boast adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, mirroring the experience of using a dedicated DualSense controller while playing PS5 games. Expanding beyond gaming, the Portal also doubles as a media player, offering a dedicated homescreen section for this purpose. The biggest drawback of the device, however, is the requirement of seamless Wi-Fi connectivity, as the Portal doesn't support local operations without it.

PlayStation Portal Compatibility 

A unique twist arises with the handheld's compatibility, or lack thereof, with Sony's upcoming cloud streaming solution for PS5 games.

“Games that must be streamed on PS5 using a PS Plus Premium membership are not compatible,” Sony stated.

This disclosure brings to light the core function of the PlayStation Portal: enabling the remote streaming of PS5 games already installed on your personal PS5 onto the handheld screen. No other PS5 titles will be accessible via the device. 

For a seamless streaming experience, an internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps is necessary, while Sony's suggested optimal speed is 15Mbps.