HANDHELD NEWS – According to a new rumor, Sony is planning a new model of the device released just over two years ago.
The PlayStation Portal is one of the most interesting pieces of hardware that Sony has released in a long time. After exiting the handheld market following the unsuccessful PlayStation Vita, Sony returned to the category with this platform, which originally launched as a Remote Play-focused device. Since its release in 2023, the system’s functionality has expanded to include cloud-based gaming, effectively turning it into a kind of portable PlayStation 5 that can run games well under the right conditions. Despite not running games natively, the PlayStation Portal has proven to be very popular among gamers. The system has been so successful that Sony is reportedly working on an updated model.
On the NeoGAF forum, the well-known insider Kepler_L2, who has correctly leaked a lot of information about both Sony and Microsoft game consoles in the past, said that another version will be released this year due to the system’s success. When asked what new features the updated PlayStation Portal could have compared to the current model, the insider replied, OLED. Given the system’s current functionality, a new display is the most obvious upgrade, and it could make the device more attractive to those who skipped the current model.
Regardless of the specific improvements the rumored updated PlayStation Portal will offer, the community has enthusiastically welcomed the idea. It is definitely a modest success and a good idea at a time when component prices are so high. Amid current price increases and negative outlooks for the immediate future, a cheap system that can run a significant portion of the current PlayStation library in some form would be appealing. However, for some, a simple upgrade to an OLED display will not be enough. Some would like to see a 120 Hz OLED panel to take advantage of 40 FPS modes in many PlayStation 5 games. Others would like upgrades such as better Wi-Fi and longer battery life, so the success of a new model with limited changes is by no means guaranteed. Although the PlayStation Portal cannot be compared to the PlayStation Vita due to its limitations, its modest success could be a good omen for the rumored PlayStation handheld planned alongside the PlayStation 6.
The release of the next-gen console may be delayed beyond the 2027-2028 window. It remains to be seen whether plans for the handheld’s release will change, and whether the unexpected success of the PlayStation Portal could encourage Sony to launch the handheld before the desktop console, opening another, more affordable gateway into the PlayStation ecosystem.
