There have been quite a few gamers predicting that the Playstation Portal would end up gathering dust on shelves. However, at least at the outset, demand for Sony’s handheld is surprisingly high – and now scalpers have evidently caught on, realizing they can make a quick buck off the device.
At present, the Playstation Portal is practically sold out in regular online retail outlets, including Sony’s own store. Instead, the handheld is available on auction platforms and from private sellers, albeit at significantly inflated prices: You’ll need at least 300 euros to buy it immediately, often even more. The recommended retail price (RRP) stands around 220 euros.
The seasoned scalpers, using bots at times, snap up coveted products faster than regular customers, leading to the current scarcity. It’s unclear whether the Playstation Portal isn’t readily available due to such tactics, allowing scalpers to offload the device at exorbitant prices.
Similar tactics worked during the Covid supply crunch and general shortages for the Playstation 5. However, Sony is likely to replenish Portal supplies relatively quickly. Those eyeing the device probably won’t have to wait too long for normally priced stock.
Nonetheless, there seems to be genuine interest in the Playstation Portal. The number of user reviews isn’t insignificant, and most reviews are surprisingly positive – not entirely expected given the limited functionality.
PS Portal: Remote Play from your own Playstation 5
The Playstation Portal (Reviewed on Golem.de) has been available since November 15, 2023. Currently, the handheld can only be used for Remote Play from your own Playstation 5 – nothing else, not even web browsing.
For input, it features the same grips and buttons as the Dualsense of the PS5, streaming the display onto an 8-inch LCD screen. According to the manufacturer, a minimum 5 Mbit/s connection is required for Remote Play with Portal, while 15 Mbit/s is recommended.
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