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Sony’s PlayStation Portal gives a confusing first impression
(www.theverge.com)
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this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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I still just do not understand who this is for. It seems extremely niche. I can’t see this selling all that well.
Hi. It's me. I'm the one it's for.
I have a den where my PlayStation is hooked up to the nice TV. I don't necessarily always want to be down there to play games, for any number of reasons. Sometimes my wife wants to watch TV while I want to play a game, and this allows us to be in the same room and do that.
I'm in the same boat with my PC. Bought a steam deck for the same reason.
Yeah, why wouldn't you spend $100 more and get a Switch or Steam Deck that can be played fully standalone, anywhere? This product is whack
Bought in heavy to the PS ecosystem already? Or just prefer it? Don't want to pay the extra $100 or $200 (steam deck)? It's not for me but I could see people doing it.
Just not many people.
Thing is, you can get a second hand Switch for about $200-220 as it is. So I really don't get it. Especially since every console has the ability to share to your phone or tablet already, and there are loads of controllers meant for phones or tablets that are less than $50.
I'm trying to defend here a product I don't really believe in, so bear with me.
The portal lets you play PS5 games, in PS5-ish quality (-ish because it's obviously not the same as a 4k TV). The best the switch can do is 7-year-old No Man's Sky, with no multiplayer. Recent Pokémon and Zelda (first party Nintendo games) can't even reach a constant 30 FPS in the whole of the game.
I don't think graphics are THAT important, but I know there are people who think that. And in that case, the PS5+Portal is going to beat a standalone steam deck or a switch. If you have a beefy PC maybe a steam deck can stream in better quality, but if you're in the PS5 ecosystem it's the best quality handheld gaming you can achieve.
Would I buy it? Absolutely not. 80% of the fun with my steam deck is taking it places. The airport, the plane, a hotel on a business trip, my partner's place, the dentist waiting room, the bus/train... All that's missing with the Portal, but that doesn't mean I can't see a (niche) market for it.
This is really my biggest issue with the device.
Yes, there’s a desire to game away from the sofa, which is why Steam Deck and Nvidia or even a phone with the PS app are all available. I can’t see the need to buy something like when there are better alternatives available for cheaper or even for free.
Remote play runs on just about anything though, you could use a phone, chromecast, computer. I bought a $15 phone mount that hooks onto my PS5 controller and it's essentially this device, but with the added benefit of using a device with more than one use.
All the people giving this product shit are single.
I'm not single, and this product is shit, the PSP/Vita legacy deserved better.
What a bizarre take
I have an actual use case for this. It is kind of niche. I don’t personally have kids but I have friends over a lot to watch sports or BBQ or whatever. I have a PS5, a respectable desktop, and a Steam Deck. I prefer the portable option of the Steam Deck or, at worst, streaming to it. I don’t know why but that’s just what I enjoy.
As the kids have gotten older, they really want to play the PS5. But if the football game is on, they cannot have the TV. So, I was using Chiaki to let them stream from the PS5. So, all my PS5 game saves are basically fucked. The younger ones will use up any and all ammo or other in-game supplies and the older ones will make progress and I’ll just be lost next login. But the worst thing is when they exit Chiaki and play my PC version of a game. I specifically tell them not to do that but they aren’t my kids so I can’t backhand them.
So, now we have a solution. A thing like the Steam Deck that is limited to only fucking up PS5 game saves so if I really want to enjoy a game, I can get the Steam version. The kids can go hog wild on the PS5. They can get sticky shit on the PlayStation Portal — and they will if there is one ounce of sugar within 5 miles. My PC is in my office and my Steam Deck is going to be locked up. I’ll actually be able to enjoy a game again. And for only $200.
Dude, the kids must've love you. You basically bought a PS5, a PS Portal and a bunch of PS5 games (which usually more expensive than their PC counterparts) and perhaps a PS plus subscription just for your friends' kids.
I’m definitely the proverbial uncle who works for Nintendo to them. But in reality, I’m a boring, non-Nintendo software engineer who just didn’t want to have kids. I’m not rolling in dough but I could probably buy every video game system ever released and it’d be less than parents spend on day care. A lot of strollers cost more than a PS5.
It's for people that both own a PS5 and liked the Wii U.
Nothing like basing your idea on Nintendo's worst selling console for ultimate success.
It's not for the kid who has his ps5 in his room, or the single adult who has full access all the time to sit on his living room couch eating cheerios in his underwear. It's also not for the single guy making his living by reviewing video game junk that comes out in hopes of being paid for what he writes.
It's for families where mom or dad or sibling wants the TV for other things. So you can go back to the bedroom or den or garage or wherever else that isn't blasting the 20th straight episode of my little pony and get some game time in.
It's 200 bucks. Ok. I have a game laptop and a steam deck. I never use the laptop anymore. The steam deck is too quick and easy. Streaming to cell phones gets you a smaller screen, smaller battery, and need to spend $100 on a gaming controller anyhow. You also can't start up the ps5 and move things along so quickly. Also with phones streaming like this, the gyro isn't as precise/great to use compared to a ps5 controller. I assume this screen/controller Playstation device works as well as their ps5 controller does.
So yeah. It's $200 for something that you may be able to do almost as well for free.....but it's not free. It's based on if you already own hundreds of dollars worth of other things, m9st of which wouldn't work quite as well.
Steam deck is too quick and easy? You want it to be more difficult?
What if someone has no PC games…? They gotta spend even more money to replace the games…
I wasn't suggesting steam deck, I was just confused about their points dismissing it. Since they sdmit to already owning one.
I think you need to re-read what I wrote. You aren't interpreting it well.
maybe you can clarify, I have re-read more than once and still don't understand youe point about the steam deck.
I was saying steam deck is to quick and easy to use compared to my laptop, so I never game on my laptop anymore.
Oh, ok yea that makes sense. I definitely see the benefits to the Portal, for the right person.