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Sony has been teasing the mysterious ‘Project Q’ for some time now and the new console has finally been unveiled. Although we thought the ‘Q’ meant something, the new addition to Sony’s console offerings is simply called ‘PlayStation Portal’, a new hand-held device aimed to compete with similar consoles on the market.

The name change was confirmed in a recent blog post by Sony, accompanied by ‘hands-on impressions’ shared by Bo Moore from IGN. The name PlayStation Portal might remind fans of the iconic PlayStation Portable, or PSP if you recall the hype, but the device itself is a departure from its predecessors.

This newest hand-held offering is designed to bring the PS5 experience to players on the go, allowing them to stream their favourite games at 1080p resolution and 60fps, all from the comfort of their palms.

That’s some impressive handling power, but is it really worth the buzz considering the other hand-held options out there?

Moore’s assessment of the device as a “stretched out DualSense” with an 8-inch LCD screen isn’t far off the mark. While the adaptive triggers, touchpad, and haptic feedback remain intact, the touchpad is now divided into two separate points at the bottom left and right corners of the screen.

Sony’s aim with the PlayStation Portal is to address what they’re calling “pain points” associated with standard streaming and handheld gaming experiences. Remarkably, the device manages to be much lighter than Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck without compromising on visuals or control comfort.

However, with ‘comfort’ comes limitations. The PlayStation Portal must be connected to Wi-Fi to function properly, and Bluetooth is notably absent. Additionally, the device does not support PS VR2 games or PlayStation Plus Premium streaming games.

The PlayStation Portal operates through PlayStation Link, a new connectivity standard for PlayStation accessories. While currently limited to the Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, Sony has announced plans to make PlayStation Link available to third-party headset manufacturers in the future. So screw me and my generic Bluetooth ‘pods right?

Credit where credit is due though, Sony really does know how to give off slick design vibes with their latest hardware, as gaming blogger, UrAvgConsumer, shows off in the video below:

The price for the PlayStation Portal has been set at £199.99 (R4715.37). Call me a skeptic, but I would probably choose a Nintendo Switch with its more diverse game offerings over the new Portal, especially considering the similar price point.

While pre-orders have not been announced, Sony has reassured eager fans that more information will be forthcoming.

I may be an ageing millennial, but it’s hard to be convinced to buy the new PlayStation Portal when the market has become saturated with zooty handheld consoles.

Maybe Sony should stick to big ol’ mothership-style consoles like the PS5, instead of seeking ‘comfort’ from a glorified tablet.

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