PS Portal's biggest games are the least suited to a Sony portable

Sony has released a PS Portal update bringing big features. Interestingly, it revealed that the biggest games are the least suitable for the PS5 handheld!

PS Portal's biggest games are the least suited to a Sony portable
Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Published

We have a new PS Portal update for June 2024 and while we'll explain all of the latest features, the most interesting part was the Sony figures stating the most played games on the handheld. They might be some of the best PlayStation Portal games being played, but they are also some of the least suitable!

Sony updates the PS5 handheld accessory the PS Portal

Naturally, Sony is patching the PS Portal to ensure it continues enhancing the user experience and engaging you with your console when out and about (or just in the next room!). The update is out right now and so I'm sure many of you have got yourselves sorted with these three new PS Portal features:
  • Public Wi-Fi sign-in screen support — more secure logins for public networks by using QR code sign-ins for verification.
  • Additional touchpad visuals — There are new, clearer effects for using the touchpad on the screen.
  • Display battery levels — You can now add the battery percentage by going from [Settings], to [System], to [Battery] and flicking the the toggle.
Now, the rest of the PlayStation Blog post is essentially an advertisement for the PS5 accessory, however, there is a note of some fascinating Sony statistics.

"We’ve also seen a wide range of games proven to be popular on 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 being some of the most played games on PS Portal within the first 3 months of its launch."

Now, I've nothing against these games, but it's really interesting to see that the most played AAA games on the PS5 are being transported around on the PS Portal. Part of the equation tracks logically to me — the PS Portal was advertised as an extension of the PS5 and these games show that that how it is being used.
Yet, at the same time, I'm a bit baffled because these games almost certainly aren't the best games to play on the PS Portal. Games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök deserve to be played on the main console on a big TV where you don't have to struggle to see enemies, do any precise timing over a wireless connection, or squint to see the HUD.

The multiplayer games are even more perplexing to me. Who on earth is having a decent game of EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team on there? A manager career mode, I concede, would be awesome to carry around on a PS Portal. Online gameplay, though? If there is even a hint of lag you'd lose the ball and concede. It would drive me ballistic! It can only get worse with a competitive shooter like Fortnite.

To be honest, I've always thought that awesome single-player games that don't have a focus on precision timing would be the way to go. I think a recent PS Plus addition like Dredge would be awesome while I'm cuddled up in bed at night away from the TV — or, indeed, chilling on the seafront, unable to see the thing and slightly lagging because I'd be tethering of my 5G connection.
Or why not take a look at all the PS5 indie games? I know Staff Writer Lee would heartily recommend Balatro as the perfect PS Portal game. The weirdly gamey take on poker has certainly infected his mind with combos of game-winning cards and he's been playing it regularly. Now he can do so on his PS Portal using the public network in casinos!

Well, that's enough of my rambling! What do you think of the most popular PS Portal games? Let us know in the comments, on-the-go TrueTrophies community!
Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson
Editor Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and Sony news. He writes about PS5 games like LEGO Horizon Adventures, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Concord, and Death Stranding 2 using experience from years of PlayStation gaming. He also covers PS Plus news, as well as his favorite games — The Witcher 3, God of War, and The Last of Us — before an evening swim.
Hide ads
View discussion...
Hide ads