Sony released the PlayStation Portal to the market, not as a handheld console but as a peripheral to the PlayStation 5. While the announcement of “Project Q” was initially received with skepticism as such, Sony seems to have done a good job with it. However, the PlayStation maker does not seem too keen on the idea of profiting from it.
Per Sony Interactive Entertainment‘s Senior Vice President Hideaki Nishino, the company is expecting the PlayStation Portal to synergize the players’ engagement with the PS5 instead of turning it into a milking cow. This might seem ironic considering the peripheral’s hefty price tag of $200.
The issue, however, seems to boil down to players’ unwillingness to face the TV screen but will choose to game portably. The PlayStation Portal, therefore, makes for a perfect solution to an otherwise strictly TV-facing experience when gaming.
In an interview with AV Watch, Nishino admitted that the PlayStation Portal is niche in that it caters to a particular need of very specific demographics. However, he also said that the measure of the handheld device’s success lies in its ability to extend the players’ play time with the PS5.
“Rather than profitability, we want to increase the amount of time we can play with PS5,” Nishino said.
“If you can play anywhere, I think some people will definitely spend more time playing games,” he added.
