When we developed the PlayStation Portal remote player, our goal was to bring high-quality console gaming experiences to the palm of your hands, even when you’re not in front of the TV. We’re continuing to develop the PS Portal experience, and we’re happy to announce that the latest system software update for our first dedicated remote play device will begin rolling out tomorrow – adding several new user enhancements.
Login screen support for select public Wi-Fi networks
Although we recommend that PS Portal be used in your home, as you have control over the quality of the Wi-Fi, it can also be used outside the home in places where a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection is available – and we’ve seen many players to take advantage of this.
With this new update, PS Portal will also connect to a number of public Wi-Fi networks* that may require additional validation steps beyond entering the network password. This includes Wi-Fi networks with login screens that can often be found in hotels, coffee shops and airports.
To connect to these public Wi-Fi networks, PS Portal will display a QR code to scan with your smartphone or tablet. Once scanned, you will be able to use your mobile device’s web browser to complete the additional validation steps on behalf of your PS Portal. As a reminder, PS Portal requires a Wi-Fi connection of at least 5Mbps, and a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended for a better gaming experience.
New visual feedback for touchpad areas
The emulated touchpad on PS Portal’s vibrant 8-inch screen is getting an update. Added new visual feedback to touchpad areas. The new effects will be displayed when using the touchpad areas during remote playback.
Display battery level in percentage
You now have the option to display the remaining battery percentage in the status bar at the top right of the screen. To use this feature, open the quick menu, go to [Settings] > [System] > [Battery]and then turn on [Show Battery Percentage].
Since the initial launch of PS Portal last November, we’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response and variety of ways our community is enjoying PS Portal games. Although Remote Play for PlayStation has been available since the PlayStation 3 generation, we built this technology with PS Portal to take the Remote Play experience to another level by integrating key features of the DualSense wireless controller with a vibrant 8-inch LCD screen.
We’re excited to see PS Portal introduce many more gamers to PS5’s Remote Play feature, with over 60 percent of PS Portal owners using the feature for the first time**. What’s more, PS Portal makes it easier for many players to access their games, with the average PS Portal owner’s engagement with PS5 increasing within the first 8 weeks of using their PS Portal.
We’ve also seen a wide range of games prove popular on the PS Portal, from single-player adventures including God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Astro’s Playroom to multiplayer titles including Fortnite, Rocket League and EA Sports FC 24 – all they are some of the most played games on PS Portal in the first 3 months of their launch***.
We are always grateful to the PlayStation community for embracing our journey as we continue to explore different ways to deliver a new experience to players. Check out the official website to learn more about PS Portal and let us know what you think in the comments!
*To connect to public networks, make sure the initial setup for your PS Portal is complete. Authentication requires the use of another device that can connect to the public network, such as a smartphone. Public networks that operate at 5 GHz are not supported.
**Internal data from November 2020 – April 2024
***Internal data from 15 November 2023 – 15 February 2024
