Sony Announces Updated PlayStation Portal Handheld Exclusive to Japan
The PlayStation Portal is trending following Sony's announcement of a new version of the handheld exclusive to the Japanese market. The updated device features internal storage intended for unannounced upcoming capabilities. It comes in Midnight Black and is set to launch on December 10.
What happened
- Earlier
Sony launched the original PlayStation Portal as a remote streaming device for PS5 games and later added cloud streaming capabilities [2].
- Recently
Sony revealed a new region-locked edition of the PlayStation Portal for Japan featuring internal storage [1], [3].
- Upcoming
Pre-orders in Japan open on Thursday ahead of the official launch on December 10 [3].
What you need to know
The new model is exclusive to Japan, restricted to Japanese language options, and requires a Japanese PlayStation account [1].
It includes built-in internal storage intended for future capabilities that Sony has not yet detailed [1], [2].
The device retains the 1080p LCD display, comes in Midnight Black, and is priced at 39,980 yen [1], [2].
Sony renamed this specific version to PlayStation Portal Player [1].
Sony has not revealed what the new internal storage will be used for or whether an updated handheld with storage will eventually launch outside of Japan [1], [3].
Background
The original PlayStation Portal was designed strictly for streaming games from a local PlayStation 5 console or via cloud streaming, featuring no built-in storage for offline playback or downloads [1], [2].
Sony previously introduced region-locked hardware in Japan, including a cheaper version of the PlayStation 5, to address local market conditions and domestic currency values [2], [3].
Questions people ask
When does the new PlayStation Portal launch?
It launches in Japan on December 10, with pre-orders beginning on Thursday [3].
Will the new PlayStation Portal play games offline?
Sony has not confirmed if the added internal storage will allow local game downloads or offline media playback [1], [3].
Is this new PlayStation Portal coming to North America?
Sony has only announced the device for Japan, where it is restricted to Japanese PlayStation accounts and settings [1].
Where this came from
[1] theverge.com
Sony’s new PlayStation Portal handheld includes ‘additional’ internal storage
Preview image from theverge.com
[2] polygon.com
Sony Officially Announces New Playstation Handheld
Preview image from polygon.com
[3] kotaku.com
Sony Announces New Japan-Only PlayStation Portal With Internal Storage
Preview image from kotaku.com
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.