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[onQ123]

Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social)

2024 saw a big dip in US video game hardware spending as all current console platforms fell by a double-digit percentage compared to 2023. What's more interesting is the strong uptick in accessories sales despite the HW declines, helped by Portal, gamepads and headphones/headsets.

bsky.app

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Amazing gadget.
Just got the Midnight Black one this week. Looks better than the white one.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

What happens when the Portal leaves beta for cloud streaming and goes from being a remote player to a remote player and cloud handheld? Does it go from being an accessory to being hardware?

Does that change it's historical tracking? How does that impact each category? I know that it doesn't, but it's an interesting thought experiment as to how we get hung up certain things.

I would love to know how much the MAU increase for PlayStation was due to the Portal. Sony should have those numbers based on PS+ accounts utilizing the Portal but not actively utilizing a PS5.

Also isn't it weird that they didn't make the Portal compatible with the PS4?

 

[onQ123]

What happens when the Portal leaves beta for cloud streaming and goes from being a remote player to a remote player and cloud handheld? Does it go from being an accessory to being hardware?

Does that change it's historical tracking? How does that impact each category? I know that it doesn't, but it's an interesting thought experiment as to how we get hung up certain things.

I would love to know how much the MAU increase for PlayStation was due to the Portal. Sony should have those numbers based on PS+ accounts utilizing the Portal but not actively utilizing a PS5.

Also isn't it weird that they didn't make the Portal compatible with the PS4?

Sony tried to have it tracked as hardware but I guess they was forced to categorize it as an accessory.

Not sure if it will change over or not now that is can work standalone.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Sony tried to have it tracked as hardware but I guess they was forced to categorize it as an accessory.

Not sure if it will change over or not now that is can work standalone.

I'm not sure they were forced to do anything here. We don't know why it was changed.

I don't expect the cloud streaming will be in beta for more than a year and even that is probably excessive.

Should be live by this summer. What will be interesting is to see the next phase of PS Cloud Streaming. They've been really slow to expand on it. I expect that they'll eventually bring it to iOS and Android (especially since this is based on Android) and that it'll arrive on Android TVs.

 

[onQ123]

I'm shocked that it's above the Kinect , PlayStation Move & Wii Balance Board era but we do have the $199 DualSense Edge , $74 DualSense & expensive headsets now plus VR.

 

[Ebrietas]

I'm not sure they were forced to do anything here. We don't know why it was changed.

I don't expect the cloud streaming will be in beta for more than a year and even that is probably excessive.

Should be live by this summer. What will be interesting is to see the next phase of PS Cloud Streaming. They've been really slow to expand on it. I expect that they'll eventually bring it to iOS and Android (especially since this is based on Android) and that it'll arrive on Android TVs.

I’m surprised they don’t at least have the remote play app for Apple TV and streaming sticks. I was seriously impressed with how well it works on my MacBook Pro.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Not bad for a device supposedly nobody wanted.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I’m surprised they don’t at least have the remote play app for Apple TV and streaming sticks. I was seriously impressed with how well it works on my MacBook Pro.

Sony's bad software engineer has always held them back as a company.

 

[FrankWza]

 

[Shaki12345]

PlayStation Portal is by far the ugliest Playstation device I have ever seen. Can't believe it sold this good.

 

[Topher]

PlayStation Portal is by far the ugliest Playstation device I have ever seen. Can't believe it sold this good.

I guess most folks don't think it is ugly or don't think it matters how it looks, rather how well it works. I can tell you this. I haven't held a more comfortable handheld device out of any of the current offerings.

 

[FrankWza]

PlayStation Portal is by far the ugliest Playstation device I have ever seen. Can't believe it sold this good.

Like an undocked switch with proper controller. Awful

 

[Shaki12345]

I guess most folks don't think it is ugly or don't think it matters how it looks, rather how well it works. I can tell you this. I haven't held a more comfortable handheld device out of any of the current offerings.

It's just seems so impractical. And what if there's something with the sticks? Then you can return the whole device..

 

[Topher]

It's just seems so impractical. And what if there's something with the sticks? Then you can return the whole device..

It isn't. What if there is "something with the stick" with most handhelds? Yeah....return it.

 

[Shaki12345]

Like an undocked switch with proper controller. Awful

Switch has detachable controllers and is actually a portable device. Not comparable. If something happens to your controller on the Portal you're gonna have to send in the whole device.

It's not a handheld.

 

[Shaki12345]

It isn't. What if there is "something with the stick" with most handhelds? Yeah....return it.

I'm glad you're happy with it mate.

 

[reinking]

PlayStation Portal is by far the ugliest Playstation device I have ever seen. Can't believe it sold this good.

It's just seems so impractical. And what if there's something with the sticks? Then you can return the whole device..

It is ugly because it is designed to be practical. If you have not used it I guess it would be hard to judge but it feels great when using it.

 

[Three]

It's just seems so impractical. And what if there's something with the sticks? Then you can return the whole device..

How does this differ from other much more expensive PC handhelds?

 

[FrankWza]

Switch has detachable controllers and is actually a portable device. Not comparable. If something happens to your controller on the Portal you're gonna have to send in the whole device.

What does that have to do with how it looks?

It's not a handheld.

To you maybe.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Accessory spending is up?

 

[Topher]

Switch has detachable controllers and is actually a portable device. Not comparable. If something happens to your controller on the Portal you're gonna have to send in the whole device.

It's not a handheld.

What if something happens and the screen stops working on "insert handheld device name"? These are situations not unique to Portal.

 

[Shaki12345]

What does that have to do with how it looks?


To you maybe.

It's a handheld within your home. I'll give you that. Hope you're happy with it.

 

[Paasei]

There’s been zero reason for me to get one. I’m surprised it sold this well.

 

[Shaki12345]

What if something happens and the screen stops working on "insert handheld device name"? These are situations not unique to Portal.

Agreed, but a Switch still has more options when it comes to controllers.

That being said, please enjoy your Portal mate.

 

[FrankWza]

It's a handheld within your home. I'll give you that. Hope you're happy with it.

It's a handheld anywhere and everywhere there's an internet connection.

 

[Shaki12345]

It's a handheld anywhere and everywhere there's an internet connection.

Sure mate.

 

[Topher]

Agreed, but a Switch still has more options when it comes to controllers.

"Sure mate"

 

[Shaki12345]

"Sure mate"

It does. Portal is dedicated. Switch supports lots of different controller extensions.

But let's not make it a competition. Please enjoy your Playstation "handheld*.

 

[rm082e]

How does this differ from other much more expensive PC handhelds?

It doesn't. There are YouTube guides for opening up and replacing the sticks on Portal and Steam Deck. It's not that hard and the parts are relatively cheap. Some companies sell hall effect replacements that are better quality than the originals.

 

[onQ123]

It does. Portal is dedicated. Switch supports lots of different controller extensions.

But let's not make it a competition. Please enjoy your Playstation "handheld*.

Here is the thing: Nothing you have said since you entered the thread has anything to do with the topic at hand.

 

[FrankWza]

Sure mate.

Righty ho guvna

 

[Topher]

It does. Portal is dedicated. Switch supports lots of different controller extensions.

But let's not make it a competition. Please enjoy your Playstation "handheld*.

What FrankWza said was accurate as well.

 

[Shaki12345]

Here is the thing: Nothing you have said since you entered the thread has anything to do with the topic at hand.

Fair point. Sorry for the derail.

 

[vodka-bull]

And I‘d still rather buy an Odin 2 Portal or a Retroid Pocket 5 than this useless thing.

 

[Horseganador]

PS portal is the perfect example of the parallel reality of forums VS the reality in the market, a lot of fud before it came out (and it still continues...) but it is a success.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

It isn't. What if there is "something with the stick" with most handhelds? Yeah....return it.

It is a fair complaint.

The reason I bought the Midnight Black edition, was because my right-stick stopped working over the x-axis, a few days before the Midnight Black pre-orders went live.
Now I have to send my Portal to Sony for repairs (which is a massive hassle this time, but that's another story).

Though another reason I bought the Midnight Black edition is because the Portal was just sold out everywhere.
Didn't want to wait until last thursday, but there was no way to get my hands on a new Portal except through scalpers.

I then went ahead and pre-ordered the black one, because what the heck?

 

[Topher]

It is a fair complaint.

The reason I bought the Midnight Black edition, was because my right-stick stopped working over the x-axis, a few days before the Midnight Black pre-orders went live.
Now I have to send my Portal to Sony for repairs (which is a massive hassle this time, but that's another story).

Though another reason I bought the Midnight Black edition is because the Portal was just sold out everywhere.
Didn't want to wait until last thursday, but there was no way to get my hands on a new Portal except through scalpers.

I then went ahead and pre-ordered the black one, because what the heck?

It is a fair complaint for just about any handheld. None of this is unique to Portal is my point. I don't understand why it is being highlighted here. Well....I know exactly why it is, but that's a different issue.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

It is a fair complaint.

The reason I bought the Midnight Black edition, was because my right-stick stopped working over the x-axis, a few days before the Midnight Black pre-orders went live.
Now I have to send my Portal to Sony for repairs (which is a massive hassle this time, but that's another story).

Though another reason I bought the Midnight Black edition is because the Portal was just sold out everywhere.
Didn't want to wait until last thursday, but there was no way to get my hands on a new Portal except through scalpers.

I then went ahead and pre-ordered the black one, because what the heck?

Which just begs the question why wont these companies put in hall effect sticks when 8Bitdo is doing it in $20 controllers?

 

[Astray]

Which just begs the question why wont these companies put in hall effect sticks when 8Bitdo is doing it in $20 controllers?

Man 8bitdo honestly embarrass all of the console manufacturers. Their controllers are almost flawless.