The PlayStation Portal has become one of Sony’s biggest surprises. What started as a simple Remote Play handheld is now the most widely used device for PS5 Remote Play, beating mobile phones, PCs, and PS4. This comes directly from Takuro Fushimi, Senior Manager of Product Management at Sony, who shared new insights during a recent interview with TechRadar.

According to him, the Portal has grown far beyond what Sony expected. Many people doubted whether a dedicated Remote Play handheld would find an audience, but the response has been stronger than Sony predicted.

Sony’s internal data shows that the average play session lasts around two hours. The handheld device is also owned by roughly 5% of all PS5 owners in the U.S., according to data from market research company Circana. The Portal was designed with one main purpose in mind, Remote Play, and the numbers prove that the people who bought it are using it exactly for that.

“Our data shows that PlayStation portal users are more engaged than non-users. PlayStation portal has now become the most widely used device for PlayStation 5 Remote Play, surpassing mobile PC, PS5, and PS4.”

Takuro Fushimi

PlayStation Portal may be more popular than you thought

“Before we launched the Portal, some questioned whether there would be demand for it, as it is such a unique product being a dedicated Remote Play device to start off with. However, we’ve seen the community’s response has been overwhelming.”

Takuro Fushimi

The growth makes sense when you look at how the device fits into the PS5 ecosystem. Sony knows the Portal is a companion device, not a standalone system, but it fills a gap that many players wanted: the ability to play PS5 games comfortably without being tied to a TV or monitor. It’s light, easy to use, and offers a smoother experience than most phones or tablets running the same feature.

Sony recently upgraded the Portal with full cloud-streaming support, something that we can only assume will solidify the device’s place on the market – and potentially tempt more users to buy one. This is a massive step forward because it means you can now stream select PS5 games directly on the handheld without needing your PS5 console turned on at home. Before the update, the only way to play was through Remote Play, which required your PS5, your home Wi-Fi, and your installed games. Now, the Portal can access games from the cloud as long as you have a stable internet connection.

However, this feature isn’t free. Cloud streaming is limited to PlayStation Plus Premium members only, which is the highest and most expensive subscription tier. Without PS Plus Premium, Portal owners are still restricted to standard Remote Play. Premium members also have access to the PS Plus Game Catalog, which is reportedly getting GTA 5 later this month.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.