Sony has taken the wraps off its rumored handheld codenamed “Project Q”, officially dubbing it the PlayStation Portal remote player. The device is purpose-built for PS5 remote play and will launch later this year for $199.
The PlayStation Portal remote player features an 8-inch LCD display with 1080p resolution and 60fps frame rate. It works over Wi-Fi to wirelessly connect to and stream games from a PS5 console.
According to Sony, the Portal allows players to “seamlessly transition” their gameplay from the living room TV to the handheld. This provides more flexibility for times when the main TV is occupied.
The Portal remote player includes a dedicated DualSense controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to mirror the flagship PS5 gamepad. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio during remote play.
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While the Portal can stream any “supported” PS5 titles installed on the console, Sony notes it does not work with PS VR2 games or cloud streaming through PlayStation Plus Premium.
Early impressions indicate the PlayStation Portal delivers responsive remote play with minimal latency. The dedicated controller is a big plus for players accustomed to DualSense features missing from third-party solutions.
At $199, the Portal remote player is priced similarly to the Nintendo Switch Lite handheld. It provides PS5 owners a way to take their games on the go around the house. And it offers an alternative to crowding on the couch for multiplayer games.
For avid PlayStation gamers, the Portal looks to be a handy companion device. We’ll have to go hands-on to see how seamless the remote play experience truly is when it launches later this year.