Sony launches PlayStation Portal, a handheld for streaming PS5 games

Sony released the PlayStation Portal Remote Player on 15 November 2023. The device, first previewed under the codename Project Q, is a handheld built around an 8-inch screen with DualSense controller features such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

The Portal does not run games itself. It connects over Wi-Fi to a PlayStation 5 in the same home or elsewhere, and streams titles that are installed on that console. It cannot play games natively, and at launch it did not support cloud streaming from Sony's subscription service. That meant it needed a PS5 and a good internet connection to be useful.

Its US launch price was $199.99. Reviews generally praised the comfortable controls and screen, while criticising the reliance on a console and the lack of Bluetooth audio support at launch. The device mattered because it was Sony's first dedicated handheld since the PlayStation Vita, though it was a streaming accessory rather than a standalone console. That limited design is the background to later discussion of any hardware changes, including storage.