HardwareHandheldsPlayStation PortalThe PlayStation Portal can finally stream games without a PS5, and I’ll take that over a Black Friday discountWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareHandheldsPlayStation PortalThe PlayStation Portal can finally stream games without a PS5, and I’ll take that over a Black Friday discountWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Rejoice, PlayStation Portal fans -Sony’s latest handheld can now do more than simply stream games from your PS5. While I’m still not sure why it wasn’t a feature from day one, you can now use PS Plus to play games via the cloud independently using an internet connection. The catch? Well, I’m not so sure retailers will feel a need to serve up Black Friday discounts now that the device is inherently better value.
Portal prices have held steady for most of the year and, if anything, you’d have spotted it for much more when it launched last year. As is typical of anything with a PlayStation logo on it these days, the handheld was originally in high demand, but stock has thankfully evened out now that the dust has settled. What I will say is that now that the portable player can do cloud streaming, more players than ever will have eyes on the device, so I’ll be keeping an eye on stock to see what happens.
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.Buy it if:✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controlsDon’t buy it if:❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phoneUK:£199 at AmazonView Deal
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.Buy it if:✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controlsDon’t buy it if:❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phoneUK:£199 at AmazonView Deal
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.Buy it if:✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controlsDon’t buy it if:❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phoneUK:£199 at AmazonView Deal
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.Buy it if:✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controlsDon’t buy it if:❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phoneUK:£199 at Amazon
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.Buy it if:✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controlsDon’t buy it if:❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phoneUK:£199 at Amazon
PlayStation Portal |$199.99 at AmazonI’m still holding out for a Black Friday deal, but now that Sony’s remote player can do cloud streaming, the handheld’s MSRP is better value for money. You will need a PS Plus subscription to access the games catalogue, but players can now pick up the handheld without a PS5.
Buy it if:
✅ You want to stream PS Plus games✅ You’re looking for a remote play device✅ You love DualSense controls
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’ve already got a handheld PC❌ You’re happy streaming using your phone
UK:£199 at Amazon
View Deal
View Deal
View Deal
Should you buy a PlayStation Portal for cloud streaming?
Image1of2(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image1of2(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image1of2
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Before I even get to my experience streaming PS Plus games using the PlayStation Portal, there are some key things to consider. The first is perhaps obvious, but Sony’s device can only stream games from its online service. It would be slightly weird if the system could cheekily tap into Xbox Game Pass andNvidiaGeForce Now, so I get why it sticks with a closed ecosystem. Still, it’s a reason to perhaps eye up Android options like theRazer EdgeandLogitech G Cloudinstead since you’ll have access to a suite of Play Store apps.
Annoyingly, you’ll still need to hop on your phone to re-sign up for PS Plus if your subscription isn’t active. Yes, that’s what I get for cancelling mine a few weeks ago, but the fact you can’t manage any of that using the handheld itself is a pain. Keep in mind you’ll need a “Premium” membership to access the cloud segment of Sony’s services, so you’ll want to keep your phone handy regardless.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
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After conquering that quirk, I was able to roam play the vampiric romp at 1080p without any noticeable lag or connection issues. I’ve got a relatively decent Gigabit internet connection at home, so your personal milage may vary, but the same goes for every cloud streaming option out there and even the more expensiveSteam Deck OLEDusing makeshift methods.
As much as the retro console enthusiast in me would love to just play PS2 games and call it a day, I naturally also had to jump into some PS5 releases. Annoyingly, the UI lacks a search function right now, meaning I had to scroll down the list using the touchscreen to find Demon’s Souls. The Soulsborne adventure’s intro kicked in fairly quickly and free from any artificing, meaning I could experience the usual symptomatic goosebumps.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
The actual gameplay really holds up too, but again, that’s entirely dependant on your internet connection. I’ll also need to sink a few hours into Demon’s Souls on the handheld to for a proper latency and feel check, even if everything looks to be working without a hitch.
Considering the cloud feature is still in beta, I’m honestly super impressed with the PS Portal’s newfound streaming functionality. The added feature somewhat redeems its $200 price tag in my eyes, and while the loser in me is itching to play PS1 games natively on the handheld, I’m glad Sony finally released the portable from its console-dependant cage. I can see many of you picking one up even if you don’t have a PS5, with or without a potential Black Friday discount next week.
TOPICSBlack Friday
TOPICS
CATEGORIESPS5PlatformsPlayStation
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”