STACK #232 February 2024

GAMING FEATURE

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ENTER THE PLAYSTATION PORTAL

Ever wanted to get some PS5 gaming in, but others in the family want to take over the telly? The brand-new PlayStation Portal handheld, out this month, just may be your new gaming best buddy. Words Amy Flower

T he nifty device isn’t necessarily the typical handheld gaming machine that you may be expecting. Rather than storing games onboard like previous PlayStation handhelds the PSP and Vita, the PlayStation Portal has been designed to stream any non-PS VR2 game that’s running on your PS5 console locally via Wi-Fi, using Remote Play. When you consider the ever growing range of top PS5 titles, as well as the massive PS4 library which is fully compatible, that’s a lot of gaming options. So, the PlayStation Portal isn’t really designed to be taken out and about, rather its aimed at allowing players to keep playing at home when the TV is in demand for other uses, or just to give freedom to play anywhere within the reach of a personal Wi-Fi network. PlayStation do recommend that, for consistent results, you have your PS5 console connected via wired ethernet, but if your wireless is stable then you should be fine. CONTROLS The PlayStation Portal is essentially a PS5 DualSense controller that has had a screen spliced into the middle of it. This means that it comes complete with those wonderful key features such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, right down to the textured grippy bits.

USB dongle for the console, but built in. What you may immediately notice is missing is the DualSense controller’s touchpad. The functionality of this has been cleverly replicated virtually via the addition of touch responsive areas on the screen, which are accessed by extending your thumbs towards the bottom corners of the PlayStation Portal’s screen. SCREEN Speaking of the screen, the PlayStation Portal’s LCD number clocks in at eight-inches diagonally in size, delivering crisp 1080p, full-HD vision at up to 60 frames per second. The screen is small enough to allow portability, while being big – and clear - enough to allow players to read text that would usually be up on their big TV or gaming monitor. SOUND As for personal audio options, the PlayStation Portal features a 3.5mm audio jack to accommodate wired headsets, or you can use the inbuilt Bluetooth to hook into the new PULSE Explore wireless earbuds or other supported wireless headsets such as the PULSE Elite. GAME! While you can’t take it on the road with you and continue on your merry PS5 way, there’s a world of uses for the PlayStation Portal at home. Whether it’s freeing up the TV for others,

BUD WAIT, THERE’S MORE! PlayStation’s new PULSE Explore wireless earbuds maintain the stylish white design aesthetic of the PS5 family, while offering more private audio freedom than ever. A matching charging case houses the two wireless earbuds, each of which is adorned with the classic PS logo. Easily connected via Bluetooth or the included wireless dongle, depending upon the device, their big special feature is the inclusion of planar magnetic drivers, which are renowned for their crisp and clear sound, and are usually only found on higher-end ear gear. There are also twin inbuilt microphones with AI-enhanced noise reduction, plus battery life of around five hours on a single charge, with another ten hours of juice available from within the case when it’s fully charged.

The PlayStation Portal was known in its development phase as ’Project Q’. DYK?

There are a handful of extra buttons, too. These amount to volume up and down, power, and also a PlayStation Link button for connecting to PULSE audio peripherals. It’s the functionality of the

• PlayStation Portal is out on Feb 2

or just allowing you to game anywhere around the house – the back patio sure sounds nice – it opens up a new world of options for PlayStation 5 players.

46 FEBRUARY 2024

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