TL;DR
Get the latest gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Sony will release a Japan-only PlayStation Portal model on December 10 with additional internal storage and a revised name, PlayStation Portal Player. Sony says the storage is intended for future functionality but has not specified what the features will be or when they will arrive.
Sony is releasing a Japan-only PlayStation Portal on December 10 with additional internal storage, a change the company says is intended for future functionality it has not yet detailed. The updated device will be called the PlayStation Portal Player and will cost 39,980 yen, about $253.
The new model will be available in midnight black, a color option previously seen on the Portal. Sony has not disclosed how much extra storage it includes, what the planned functions will do, or when they will become available. The company told The Verge that the features will be announced once they are finalized.
The Japan model will be restricted to Japanese-language options and can only be used with a PlayStation account registered in Japan, according to The Verge’s report. Those limits make it a regional product rather than a general replacement for the existing Portal.
Sony is also changing the product name from PlayStation Portal Remote Player to PlayStation Portal Player. The name and added storage have prompted speculation about possible functions, but Sony has not confirmed support for streaming apps or offline media playback.
More Storage, Features Still Pending
The additional storage signals that Sony is preparing the Portal for functions beyond its current core role, but the practical change for buyers is not yet known. Without details about the storage capacity or planned features, customers cannot tell whether it will affect how they use the device at launch or only become useful after a later update.
For existing Portal owners, the announcement does not confirm that the same functionality will come to their models. The Japan-only language and account restrictions also mean the new version is not currently an option for most buyers outside Japan. The announcement is a hardware change with potential software implications, not confirmation that the Portal is becoming a locally playable console or a full media player.
Products Worth Considering
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds with USB‑C Charging, Up to 2X More Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, Adaptive
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Black
Logitech MX Ergo S Advanced Wireless Trackball Mouse USB-C – Graphite
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Portal Works Today
The PlayStation Portal is designed to stream games from a PS5 console and, in supported cases, from the cloud. The Verge reports that the current device does not support entertainment apps such as YouTube, Disney Plus or Netflix, and cannot run PlayStation games locally.
That background helps explain the interest in extra storage. The Verge notes that it could potentially support streaming apps or media synced for offline playback, but these are possibilities, not announced features. Sony’s stated position is narrower: the space is for future functionality that the company will describe after those features are finalized.
“The extra storage is for “future functionality” that will be announced once the features are finalized.”
— Sony, as quoted by The Verge
Features and Storage Capacity Undisclosed
Sony has not said how much additional storage the new model contains, which specific features will use it, or when those features will launch. The company’s description does not confirm that the device will gain video-streaming apps, offline media playback, or any other particular capability.
It is also unclear whether future functionality will be limited to this Japan-only model or later reach existing PlayStation Portal devices. Sony has not provided details on a broader release, nor has it said whether the product name change marks a lasting change to the Portal line.
Sony’s Feature Announcement Ahead
The new model is scheduled to go on sale in Japan on December 10 for 39,980 yen. Sony says it will explain the intended features once they are finalized; no announcement date or feature rollout schedule has been provided.
The next concrete information to watch for is Sony’s clarification of the storage capacity, the functions it supports, and whether any of those functions will be available on Portal models outside Japan. Until the company releases those details, the added storage’s real-world benefit remains uncertain.
Key Questions
When does the new PlayStation Portal go on sale?
Sony’s Japan-only model is scheduled to launch on December 10.
How much will the Japan model cost?
The announced price is 39,980 yen, reported as about $253. The source does not specify a separate price for other markets.
What will the additional internal storage be used for?
Sony says it is intended for future functionality, but has not yet identified the features or said when they will be available.
Does the new model add Netflix or other streaming apps?
That has not been confirmed. The Verge notes the existing Portal does not support apps such as Netflix, YouTube or Disney Plus, but Sony has not announced that the new model will add them.
Can buyers outside Japan use this version?
The announced model is exclusive to Japan, is limited to Japanese-language options, and can only be used with a PlayStation account registered in Japan, according to The Verge.
Source: theverge.com
