Project Q, now officially known as the PlayStation Portal, was revealed in the brand's big spring showcase, and people aren't quite sure what to make of it. For years, die-hard PS Vita fans and Switch on-lookers have been eager for PlayStation to make some sort of move toward a new handheld platform, and now that Sony has revealed all the details relating to the remote play handheld, we have have a better idea of the experience it'll provide
Just to reiterate, the PlayStation Portal is a remote play gaming handheld, meaning you'll need a PS5 to play games. The device effectively serves as a dedicated way to use the console's streaming capabilities, complete with its own 8-inch LCD screen and integrated DualSense controls. The portable won't be able to run games independently like a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, so if you're holding out for a PS Vita successor, you're out of luck.
Sadly, while the PlayStation Portal does stream PS5 games over WiFi, you won't be able to access games via the cloud using your Plus Premium account. Sony specifically refers to the the device as a "remote player", and it's designed to be used with a PS5 nearby. If that sounds like your cup of tea, here's everything you need to know about the device formally subbed Project Q, including the PlayStation Portal's price, release date, and specs.
PlayStation Portal price
The PlayStation Portal costs $199.99 / £199, meaning it's one of the cheapest gaming handhelds for streaming around. However, it's worth reiterating that you'll need a PS5 to actually play games using the device, as it relies on remote play rather than cloud connectivity. With that in mind, there's a chance Sony will sell bundles that include the handheld and a PS5 console, as we've witnessed similar pairings in the past when the PS Vita TV arrived on the scene.
| Device | Price (US) | Price (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Razer Edge | $399.99 | £320 |
| Steam Deck | $359.10 (64GB) - $584 (512GB) | £349 (64GB) - £569 (512GB) |
| ASUS ROG Ally | $599 - $699 | £699 |
| Logitech G Cloud | $350 | £329 |
| Nintendo Switch | $299 | £199.99 |
Project Q release date
We don't have a release date for Project Q, but Sony has confirmed it'll share pre-order information and an official launch date soon.
An obvious choice for release dates for any kind of gaming hardware would point to the holiday season since PS5 itself and its predecessors all launched in a November timeframe. This could absolutely be a possibility, as Sony might want to capitalize on holiday sales events like Black Friday, and it might give them the chance to put bundles together for the console, the handheld, and potentially even PSVR 2.
With Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releasing in the fall, that's also an option for a Project Q launch date. It might be that Sony wants the handheld, which will release into a competitive market, to make use of Spider-Man 2's marketing somehow.
Then, of course, there are late Summer months like August. I'd be shocked to see Project Q's release date any time before then since we still don't know much about it, and that usually signals that it's got ways to go in terms of production and development - just look at the timeline for project Leonardo, which was revealed in January and was only just confirmed as the Access Controller in May.
As soon as we hear a Project Q release date, we'll update this page.
Project Q specs, features, and functionality
As mentioned, the PlayStation Portal will feature an eight-inch HD display, all the buttons of a regular DualSense controller, and will stream games over Wi-Fi that have already been installed on a PS5. The experience should be similar to pairing a smartphone with one of the best mobile controllers, like the Backbone One PlayStation Edition.
In an announcement blog post, Sony says the PlayStation Portal is "the perfect device for gamers in households where they might need to share their living room TV," as it's effectively tethered to the PS5. While you can use other devices, like the Logitech G Cloud that we turned into a makeshift Project Q, this dedicated solution is armed with a 1080p 60fps screen and costs substantially less than other gaming handhelds out there.
From what we know currently, it doesn't seem like Project Q can be docked like a Nintendo Switch or like with one of the best Steam Deck Docks. So it won't be an alternative to buying a PS5, and it won't really be able to compete with something like the Asus ROG Ally which is geared at taking games on the go as a separate handheld device.
As for controls, the PlayStation Portal has two halves of a DualSense on either end of its display. From that, we can assume that the device will inherit some of its features. Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Trigger Resistance are staples of the PS5's controller ecosystem, even appearing on PSVR 2's Sense controllers. One big concern is that the DualSense has been plagued by reports of stick drift and poor battery life. With Sony not doing anything to change the problematic potentiometer sticks in the DualSense Edge, it wouldn't be at all surprising if this PlayStation handheld was prone to those same stick drift issues.
For more on PlayStation goodies, take a look at the best PS5 accessories, the best PS5 controllers, and the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
