Pre-ordering Sony's new remote player is now possible.
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) recently announced that its PlayStation Portal remote player is now available for pre-ordering almost a week after its introduction.
SIE introduced the PlayStation Portal on Aug. 23, with it revealing the remote player's capabilities and its appearance.
Pre-ordering A Portal
It has almost been a week since SIE introduced the world to the PlayStation Portal, and it seems that its projected release date of "sometime in late 2023" is now a reality.
According to a recent update to a PlayStation Blog article about the Portal, SIE will launch the PlayStation 5 remote player on Nov. 15, and interested customers can now make pre-orders for the device at Sony's official PlayStation Direct storefront. However, not everyone can pre-order the PlayStation Portal right now.
As of press time, only customers in the following countries can pre-order the PlayStation Portal for themselves:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Austria
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- The Netherlands
- Italy
- Spain
- Portugal
There is hope for other countries, though. SIE also revealed that interested customers in Canada and Japan can pre-order the PlayStation Portal on Sept. 29. This date will also be when people can make pre-orders for their PlayStation Portals from other select retailers apart from the official PlayStation Direct storefront.
Although SIE hasn't revealed when customers from other countries can pre-order the PlayStation Portal, it does promise it will announce when they can do so at a later date.
Is The Portal Worth Pre-Ordering?
Let's get one thing clear: the PlayStation Portal is not a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch and Valve's Steamdeck. The PlayStation Portal is a remote handheld device that lets PS5 gamers access games that the device can support remotely in tandem with the gaming console in question.
The device features an 8-inch LCD screen capable of displaying PS5 games at a 1080p resolution at 60fps - it gives players "a high definition visual experience expected from high-quality games." The device will connect remotely to a PS5 over Wi-Fi, allowing PS5 gamers to access their games when they need to share their living room TV or want to play PS5 games in another room of the house.
The PlayStation Portal bears similarity to the existing PS5 DualSense Controllers. The side controllers support adaptive triggers and haptic feedback which makes it easier to switch from PS5 to remote play.
The PlayStation Portal comes with a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio, allowing PS5 players who prefer a wired audio experience to play their games that way. Although SIE announced the latest PlayStation wireless headset and earbuds, Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore, it didn't confirm if they could be connected to the Portal.
SIE plans to unveil more information about the Portal in 2023 ahead of its release. In the mean time, though, customers interested in buying themselves one will need to prepare $120 to do so.
