Highlights
- Despite initial doubts, the PlayStation Portal remains a strong seller, exceeding Sony's sales projections.
- The remote play device, priced at $200, has dispelled concerns about its utility with positive reviews.
- Sony may enhance the Portal with cloud gaming, but for now, minor updates focus on small quality-of-life improvements.
According to recently published sales data, the PlayStation Portal is still selling strongly in major markets. The remote player launched eight months ago amid a lot of skepticism, but it appears the PlayStation Portal's healthy demand continues to defy those expectations.
One of the key reasons behind some of the doubt surrounding the Portal was its purpose as a Remote Play accessory for the PlayStation 5, rather than a standalone handheld console much like Sony's prior PlayStation Vita and PSP. Many believed that with handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally quickly accruing popularity in recent years, Sony was squandering the opportunity to revisit the dedicated handheld market with the Portal. While the device is only built with Remote Play in mind, reviewers did acknowledge that the Portal fulfilled its singular purpose quite well, a sentiment also echoed in its reception.
Shortly after its November 2023 launch, the PlayStation Portal sold out in major regions, with even Sony admitting that the device exceeded the company's internal sales projections. Eight months onward, it appears that demand has yet to waver. As per a new report from Mat Piscatella, the executive director of United States-based analytics firm Circana, the PlayStation Portal was the best-selling video game accessory in terms of dollar sales in the US for the month of May 2024, as well as 2024 year-to-date.
PlayStation Portal is the Best-Selling Video Game Accessory Despite $200 Price Tag
The PlayStation Portal's commercial reception is extremely strong, considering its $200 price tag is on the higher end for an accessory. It also appears that Sony has resolved the supply chain issues with the device, as it struggled to restock the Portal when it kept selling out at launch. The success of the remote player also dispels concerns about its seemingly narrow utility, as many Portal owners have taken to the internet to express their appreciation for the convenience it offers, even if it can't play games natively.
However, Sony can still build upon the PlayStation Portal's value proposition by offering additional features, with cloud gaming functionality being one of the top choices right now. The company did allude to cloud streaming integration being in the works for the Portal, but hasn't provided any timelines for a potential launch. For now, the PlayStation Portal has only been receiving minor updates that add relatively small quality-of-life improvements, such as the ability to display the battery percentage and connect to public Wi-Fi networks.
Playing Time 6-8 hours Brand PlayStation Weight 529g Headset Compatibility 3.5mm, PlayStation Link Display 8-inch LCD Output resolution 1080p Release Date November 15, 2023 Expand $199 at Amazon$200 at Target$200 at Newegg$200 at Playstation Store
