The PlayStation Portal has been out of stock virtually everywhere else as of late, electronics retailer Best Buy recently had PS Portals in stock. They’re now sold out again online, but it might be worth checking your local stores just in case.
Original guide follows.
When Sony launched its the PS Portal, its portable PS5 streaming device, on November 15, 2023, it swiftly sold out. With the ability to stream your favorite PS5 games to a handheld device anywhere you can get a decent internet connection, it’s no surprise that the Portal has been so popular with PS5 owners.
At the time of writing, the PS Portal remains out of stock on Sony’s PlayStation Direct store, as well as multiple other traditional retailers. But if you know where to look, you might be able to spot new ones once they become available.
Buying the PS Portal direct from Sony (currently out of stock)
Though a fresh stock of PS Portals went up on January 11, 2024 on the Sony website, they swiftly sold out. Keeping your eye on Sony’s site is a direct way to check current inventory status. Unfortunately, there’s no way to wishlist or favorite the PS Portal on Sony’s site for any status notifications. So definitely act fast if you do spot some up for sale on the site.
Buying the PS Portal from other retailers
Unfortunately, PS Portal stock at sites like Best Buy and Amazon have also remained empty. Fortunately, sites like Best Buy allow you to check local stock and save items to your account for a quick way to know when Sony’s streaming handheld pops up again.
The PS Portal is proving popular with fans
While the sale of many PS Portal units are unfortunately getting snagged by scalpers, those that have managed to get their hands on one have been rather pleased with its performance. Its 8-inch LCD screen produces a great image. Though it requires a Wi-Ficonnection and a PS5 powered on to connect to, a healthy internet connection still resulted in low latency and few streaming hiccups. In our review of the PS Portal, Kotaku editor in chief Jen Glennon said:
Over several days of testing, I only experienced a single connection hitch, while playing Like A Dragon: Ishin. Without warning, I was roaming around Kyoto looking for a fight, when I got a message that my connection to my PS5 was lost. I hit the X button to reconnect as prompted, and after a momentary delay I was able to resume without having to exit the game or reload my save.
Though its appeal as a portable streaming solution for PS5 games might’ve seemed too niche for its success, the Portal has remained a popular and hard-to-find item on internet retail sites. You can expect this guide to be updated as soon as we catch wind of an inventory refresh.
Updated: 2/29/2024, at 3:30 p.m. ET: Added details about PS Portal availability.
Updated: 3/1/2024, at 10:20 a.m. ET: Updated details about Best Buy availability.