The PlayStation Portal (Image courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea)
SEOUL, Jul. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The portable gaming market, which saw renewed consumer interest following the 2022 release of the Steam Deck, is experiencing intensified competition as console manufacturers join hardware makers in the race for market share.
Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea (SIEK) announced on July 29 that it will officially launch the PlayStation Portal, a remote player device for the PlayStation 5 (PS5), in South Korea on September 4. This follows the device’s earlier release in North America and Japan in November of last year.
The PlayStation Portal allows users to remotely play games running on their PS5 via a Wi-Fi connection. Unlike standalone portable consoles such as the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, the Portal requires a PS5 to function.
However, industry observers note that the user experience is comparable, as gamers can enjoy their PS5 titles remotely when connected to the internet, even outside their homes.
The Steam Deck (Image courtesy of Valve)
Sony’s decision to introduce a new portable device, its first since the PS Vita in 2011, is believed to be driven by the growing global demand for handheld gaming systems.
This trend is exemplified by the success of Valve Corporation’s Steam Deck, launched in 2022. Over 3 million units of the Steam Deck, praised for its high performance and portability, were estimated to have been sold worldwide by the end of last year.
While these sales figures pale in comparison to the tens of millions of units shipped for traditional consoles or smartphones, they are considered encouraging for a device that pioneered a new market segment of portable gaming PCs.
In South Korea, Shinsegae I&C, a subsidiary of Shinsegae Group, began official distribution of the Steam Deck in June 2022, making it available in 70 Electromart stores nationwide.
Inspired by the Steam Deck’s success, hardware manufacturers from the Greater China region have also entered the portable gaming PC market.
Asus launched its ROG Ally in June 2023, featuring a design reminiscent of the Steam Deck. Lenovo followed with the Legion Go in September of the same year, while MSI introduced the Claw in March of this year.
Additionally, industry speculation suggests that Nintendo may announce a successor to the Switch as early as the end of this year, with an official release expected in the first half of 2025.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
