Sony initially considered nicheness to be one of the key advantages of the $200 PlayStation Portal – now the company is extremely happy with sales and high demand for a portable device that was created specifically as an application for the PS5, rather than an alternative to the PSP or PS Vita. These and other interesting details were told by Sony’s vice president of product management, Hiromi Wakai, in an interview with Game File.

What is PlayStation Portal

PlayStation Portal is a gadget for streaming games from the PS5, which is de facto a modification of DualSense, supplemented by an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. You can’t run games on it via the “cloud”*, only transfer a picture from the PS5. This, as well as the lack of support for Bluetooth accessories, puts PlayStation Portal at a disadvantage to full-fledged portables such as the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. Despite the peculiarities and conflicting assessments of the specialized media and ordinary consumers, at the start of sales in November 2023, the entire first batch of PlayStation Portal at the start of sales in November 2023 was quickly sold out, which surprised many at the time. Sony, on the other hand, did not share production plans or detail the volume of the first batch.

PlayStation Portal sale

In a conversation with Steven Totilo, Sony’s top manager touched on the success of PlayStation Portal for the first time and now clarified the positioning of the device, which has never claimed the role of an alternative to PSP or PS Vita. Ms. Hiromi Wakai, the demand for PlayStation Portal “continues to exceed expectations” of Sony – while it is difficult to buy the novelty, as most stores have run out of the gadget. At the same time, Sony’s top manager refused to name exact sales figures. “And although we cannot share exact numbers, the demand continues to exceed our expectations,” Wakai is quoted as saying.

The vice president of Sony also said that the reaction to the announcement was as the company expected – the device was always considered niche and intended for users with specific needs. Moreover, even before the start of sales, Sony clearly understood that not everyone would appreciate the special niche of Portal. Initially, it was created as the most simple and convenient companion gadget that would not require additional efforts from developers. The key goal, according to Hiro Wakai, is to expand the capabilities of the PS5 (providing a “console-quality experience” on a portable screen and without having to be directly in front of the console), rather than replacing it entirely.

Hiromi Wakai didn’t say a word about Sony’s plans for the PlayStation Portal or any other portable devices, only saying that the current priority is to get more shipments out so that everyone can buy the device. If there is no shortage of PlayStation Portal in Ukrainian stores, offers start at UAH 8,799. And recently, enthusiasts managed to hack the PlayStation Portal, run the PPSSPP emulator on it and even play a native version of GTA.

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