Sony reportedly working to improve PS Portal with new features

The PlayStation Portal is reportedly getting new features in the future, and while the launch was a bit controversial, over the last year Sony has added quality of life features. Previously, Sony added the option to play games via cloud gaming, and as per SIE VP of Product Management, Hiromi Wakai, this was one of the things on the roadmap.

This comes from an interview with Game File where Wakai revealed that since the PS Portal wasn’t a dedicated handheld, users wanted to at least have cloud gaming features. “After launch, we heard from many of our users that they want cloud game streaming support, and of course, being gamers ourselves, we felt the same way,” Wakai said.

When Sony first revealed the PS Portal, many mistook it for a handheld gaming console and were disappointed after it was revealed as an accessory to play PS5 games. Despite that, the 3% of the PS5 owners in the US have purchased PS Portal, which amounts to over 600,000 units in sales across the country.

Back in June, another update added much-requested features like enabling support for additional validation steps allowing users to connect to select public Wi-Fi networks. While the interview did not specifically talk about what features are to come, they are likely related to other QoL requests by fans and expanding the cloud gaming feature.

Also Read: Sony PlayStation Co-CEO confirms their plans to revive the classic game franchises

Sony also working on separate handheld console

While the PS Portal may not be what fans wanted, there are reports that Sony is also secretly working on a dedicated handheld console. This will be their first handheld after the PS Vita, and, as per reports, it will be able to run PS5 games and compete with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

However, Xbox may also join the race very soon as, following console wars, it seems companies are now aiming for mobile entertainment with the rising popularity of handheld consoles. Xbox is already aiming to provide a gaming experience across a variety of devices, so a handheld will not be surprising.