this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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I still just do not understand who this is for. It seems extremely niche. I can’t see this selling all that well.
Hi. It's me. I'm the one it's for.
I have a den where my PlayStation is hooked up to the nice TV. I don't necessarily always want to be down there to play games, for any number of reasons. Sometimes my wife wants to watch TV while I want to play a game, and this allows us to be in the same room and do that.
I'm in the same boat with my PC. Bought a steam deck for the same reason.
Yeah, why wouldn't you spend $100 more and get a Switch or Steam Deck that can be played fully standalone, anywhere? This product is whack
Bought in heavy to the PS ecosystem already? Or just prefer it? Don't want to pay the extra $100 or $200 (steam deck)? It's not for me but I could see people doing it.
Just not many people.
Thing is, you can get a second hand Switch for about $200-220 as it is. So I really don't get it. Especially since every console has the ability to share to your phone or tablet already, and there are loads of controllers meant for phones or tablets that are less than $50.
I'm trying to defend here a product I don't really believe in, so bear with me.
The portal lets you play PS5 games, in PS5-ish quality (-ish because it's obviously not the same as a 4k TV). The best the switch can do is 7-year-old No Man's Sky, with no multiplayer. Recent Pokémon and Zelda (first party Nintendo games) can't even reach a constant 30 FPS in the whole of the game.
I don't think graphics are THAT important, but I know there are people who think that. And in that case, the PS5+Portal is going to beat a standalone steam deck or a switch. If you have a beefy PC maybe a steam deck can stream in better quality, but if you're in the PS5 ecosystem it's the best quality handheld gaming you can achieve.
Would I buy it? Absolutely not. 80% of the fun with my steam deck is taking it places. The airport, the plane, a hotel on a business trip, my partner's place, the dentist waiting room, the bus/train... All that's missing with the Portal, but that doesn't mean I can't see a (niche) market for it.
This is really my biggest issue with the device.
Yes, there’s a desire to game away from the sofa, which is why Steam Deck and Nvidia or even a phone with the PS app are all available. I can’t see the need to buy something like when there are better alternatives available for cheaper or even for free.