Summary
Sony has announced that a new firmware update for thePlayStation Portalhandheld streaming device is set to be released tomorrow, adding some useful features. Released in November 2023, thePlayStation Portalhas seen a healthy amount of success, and Sony has been regularly improving the handheld’s user experience with occasional updates ever since.
While the PlayStation Portal isn’t a dedicated handheld console like the Nintendo Switch, its primary Remote Play functionality has made it a compelling proposition for many PlayStation 5 owners. Demand for the streaming handheld has seemingly even exceeded Sony’s expectations, as the companyreportedly struggled to restock the PlayStation Portalafter it kept selling out in major regions after launch.
Priorupdates to the PlayStation Portal have improved image qualitywhen streaming PS5 games, among other discreet fixes. However, Sony has revealed a bigger firmware update for the Portal that is set to land on June 19 and introduce some major quality-of-life improvements, as detailed by a newPlayStation Blog post. Most notably, the Wi-Fi functionality of the device will be expanded upon with sign-in screen support for certain public Wi-Fi networks. The Portal will display a QR code which users can scan with their smartphones/tablets, and use their web browsers to sign the handheld onto the network.
New PlayStation Portal Update Makes Connecting to Wi-Fi More Convenient
Connecting the Portal to Wi-Fi without a web browserwas a fairly tedious process, so owners should feel relieved. The update will also bring a subtle improvement to the emulated touchpad on the Portal’s screen, adding new visual feedback to represent inputs. Lastly, Portal users will finally have the option to display the device’s battery level as a percentage in the top right of the UI, which has been among the more requested features. PlayStation also acknowledged the healthy demand and enthusiasm for the device in the blog post, disclosing that over 60% of Portal owners used Remote Play for the first time.
The PlayStation Portal seems to be a worthwhile accessory for those in the PlayStation ecosystem, but with the handheld gaming console market heating up in recent years, one can only wonder if Sony could be planning a comeback. The company was one of the biggest players in the handheld console space in the 2000s and 2010s with the iconic PlayStation Portable. While there’s no telling whetherSony is working on a new PlayStation handheldconsole, the stellar demand for the Portal streaming device could be an indicator for the future.
PlayStation Portal
While not exactly a PSP successor, the PlayStation Portal solves an age-old issue of having to share one TV in a household. This remote play device allows users to stream whatever is happening on their PlayStation 5’s directly to the large 8-inch 1080p LCD screen. What makes the PlayStation Portal unique is that it comes packed with all the advanced technology of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. One downside is that it doesn’t feature Bluetooth support for wireless audio, but it does work with the PlayStation Pulse earbuds and headset, while also sporting a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio.
