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PS5 Fans Willing to Pay a Pretty Penny for a Steam Deck-Like Portable PlayStation

Not cheaping out

by · Push Square

With Sony supposedly working on a next generation handheld PlayStation alongside the main PS6, it's had us pondering what it'd be like. Would fans want something like a Steam Deck equivalent, that accesses your existing PlayStation library? How much cash would people be prepared to splash on one?

Well, we know that, at least from our readership, the majority of fans are very much in favour of a new portable console from Sony. And now, thanks to a recent poll, we have a rough idea of what people would be willing to spend on it.

As it turns out, there's a fair spread of responses. The results of the poll show that 25 per cent would be happy to pay between $300 and $399 for such a device, while a further 24 per cent would go a step further, splurging up to $499.

A smaller contingent, 15 per cent of respondents, would be willing to pay anything up to $599.

It's interesting to compare against similar products. Valve's range of Steam Deck portable PCs vary from £349/$399 up to £569/$649, depending on the model and amount of storage. Asus' ROG Ally line starts at £599/$499 and goes up to £799/$799 for the top model.

These things aren't selling enormous numbers of units, but enthusiasts are clearly willing to pay for the convenience of carrying around their games collections with them wherever they go, and it appears to be the case here too.

While we can't predict where Sony would land on this spectrum — if we assume the rumours about a portable PlayStation are true — we can't imagine it'd be cheap. PS Portal, a handheld that can't run games natively, is £199/$199; a portable device that can run modern software itself will have a much bigger price tag.

Most people who answered our poll landed in the $300 to $499 range, and that feels about right, though it may well fly north of that, depending on how capable the machine is.

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Talking Point Would You Want a Steam Deck-Like Portable PlayStation?

All hands on deck

Where do you land on this topic? Tell us in the comments section below.

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About Stephen Tailby

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.

Comments 69

For me it have to have unique games not found on ps5/4. I loved soul sacrifice on psp/vita + gravity rush, persona 1 and 2 etc .

It would be nice to have access to my old vita library on it too if possible

It would be nice to have exclusives to take advantage of portable play but any potential device would more likely be essentially a PS4/5 portable. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I’d definitely love more pick up and play games, a bit of a dying art with mobile games being rife with MTX and console games requiring a larger commitment.

I'm still campaigning for the prices to be given to us in £££ as well as $$$ seeing as this is a UK based website

What i'd pay depends on the hardware and software. If this launches this gen and plays all the PS4 and PS5 library as well as cloud games smoothly i'd pay big bucks. Bonus points for other backwards compatibility.

@Member_the_game I've always found that strange as well, are the majority of users on here from the US?

I'm excited for the Switch 2 and its price announcement. Sony should have to work to try and enter the handheld market again, unlike how they are doing whatever they want without competition in the home console space.

@Member_the_game Exactly i often wonder why as well.

@UltimateOtaku91 @Jrs1

Yes very bizarre, especially when you consider that the author of the post is also from the UK

@Quintumply care to explain???

I’ll pay top dollar if it is properly supported with software that appeals to me

So people are complaining about the ps5 Pro price but are willing to spend silly money on a hand held? I just don't understand and I'm not sure I want to either.

I'd only buy one of it had its own library of games, i only really play games at home, so it being portable is nice if someone is on the TV but largely meaningless for me, I barely ever play my Switch handheld.

It's the same reason I haven't bought the Steamdeck. I think it looks like a great device but I genuinely don't know when I'd ever use it

Depends on the games, but I might be more likely to buy this than a Pro. Again, if the games are there.

$700 ps6 $900 ps portable

If it runs SteamOS, or at least allows you to, I could see the value in paying over $400 for it, but if it's just going to be a handheld PS5 I think $350, like the Switch OLED, would be the sweet spot for what you're getting.

I would happily pay as much as a ps5 for one, as long as I can download from my existing ps library. Having kids that game has severely eaten into my hobby, as far as ps goes anyway.

@Northern_munkey Please allow me to explain. I would welcome one so I am able to play my games for once. By the time the kids are finished with the games in my house there's barely any time left for me to play. Being able to drop a set of headphones on and play in peace on a handheld is far more valuable than a so called upgrade that most people don't even a good enough tv to warrant the purchase.

@kyleforrester87 I would pay top pounds

A PS5 handheld would cost at least $1000/£850.

@RBRTMNZ I'm thinking it would be around £600 which would be acceptable

@KaiBrunnenG Would be cheaper to buy another telly and a slim 😃

@Jrs1 @Member_the_game @UltimateOtaku91

I am from Canada so NOTHING makes sense. So this is what I do. https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

@KaiBrunnenG but you see you've given valid reasons and as far as I can tell you've not been moaning about the price of the ps5 Pro.. I hope people enjoy it and are happy with it if it becomes a real thing.

@MikeOrator hmm so 599 dollars is 472 pounds for me which is pretty decent exchange rate, knowing this I would have voted a bit higher in the polls.

@Jrs1 Mate I have 4 TVs and ps5s as it is. I'm loath to buy any more, no more room 😂

@Northern_munkey The ps5pro is a scam. No way I'm buying a console for that amount unless it has a disc drive.

@UltimateOtaku91

Isn't it the VAT that makes everything look more expensive than it is? My conversion is 840 bucks plus I need to pay 12% sales tax on top of that price. Who can afford this hobby anymore...lol...

There are probably tariffs and import fees for the UK as well.

I don't want it to have exclusive games. That is what gutted the Vita. Developers don't have time to be spending years on a game only for 30 people to play it. This makes their efforts at a handheld exclusive absolutely half baked and rare. Most exclusive games on Vita were like this, and there are a handful of games that were truly great.

@MikeOrator

Canadian $$$ are like Monopoly money so I can see exactly where you're coming from 🤣

@KaiBrunnenG I stand corrected.

@KaiBrunnenG
You would pay 600 GBP for a handheld PlayStation without a disc drive, but 700 GBP for a dedicated console without a disc drive is a "scam". I get that a handheld is more valuable to YOU but a handheld seems to be of less overall value in general. Especially if I cannot buy an add-on to access my physical collection or dock it to play on my TV. I would pay as much as a Switch OLED. What is that now, 299 GBP? Ya I would pay that much, or just use my Portal to stream my games (when Sony inevitably expands this feature).

@Member_the_game

And it looks like British money with the monarch still all over it...lol...

@KaiBrunnenG Haha fair enough

@MikeOrator Well surely I can't be the only person to be in my situation. I was simply responding to another poster that didn't understand why anyone would see value in a handheld over a dedicated console. Please understand that everyone has different needs. I'm sorry I upset you by calling the ps5pro a scam. (Which it is).

@KaiBrunnenG

Not upset you called it a scam just confused as to why you would pay the equivalent of a pro to have an even lesser gaming experience. I get it would be portable and that is always an attractive option but as people say about getting a PC instead of a pro, why not just get a Steam Deck?

I have a steam deck but I can't play my huge library of ps games on that now can I? I don't think you can compare handhelds to under the tv consoles. Two different experiences. I am interested in an alternative way to play said games and I know I'm not alone here or sony wouldn't be considering it. £600 for the luxury of taking my games literally anywhere I want to play is way more valuable than a slightly upgraded piece of kit that I already own.

@KaiBrunnenG

exactly!! You want to play your PS games on a handheld. Not a portable PC to play PC games on. Just like people want to play the PS games in the best way that they can on the right TV with the Pro. Neither of these ways are better than the other. (or a scam). If Sony took the idea of a portable Playstation and made it so it could dock and have the same specs as the PS5 Pro AND have an option for physical media, I too would pay your 600 GBP for that bit of kit.

I read a few comments about having a PS handheld dock to a TV.
For those who have a SteamDeck, did you get one to replace your PC or as an alternative way to play your steam games?

For me it's an alternative. Similar to what I'd want from this product. A premium extra device that's part of the PS ecosystem.

@charbtronic

You mean like a PS Portal...lol...

@charbtronic I bought a steam deck as an alternative way to play my pc games. My son uses the pc for school work, as well as playing games.

Im probably just stick with my console as handhelds dont really do it for me anymore. That said my brother and his girlfriend would love it although it would need to be a gift from someone as they are not gonna spend for one. They would also need 2 as she definitely would hog it

@MikeOrator The ps portal is a streaming device. This ps5 handheld or whatever it turns out to be, I'm assuming will let you download and play your games without worrying about internet signal.

If I can play natively I’d absolutely buy one, my Steam Deck gets more use than any of my consoles these days.

Just a 1080p oled screen with a good HDR implementation along with graphics set at medium plus 60fps would be great.

@Northern_munkey "I stand corrected." man, this whole interaction cracked me up 😂 so close to realising the reality.

"Why would you want to spend a large amount of money for an option with a select few benefits that you want? I'd much rather spend a large amount of money for the select few benefits I want. What do you mean subjective opinions?"

@Boxmonkey is that their black Friday pricing?

Definitely not me though.
I would be crazy for fall for that after what they did with the Vita.

I was pretty anti-PS5 Pro (still am), because the value proposition was lousy to me. That said, I'd gladly pay up to $799 for the right handheld device.

If the price goes too high though, it won't receive wide adoption. Low adoption = less support from devs = less games = less sales = Sony abandons it after two years. (RIP VITA).

It has to be a good middle ground for what it does. I'm not up to date on handheld tech but if it can do PS4 level graphics and functionality, I'd say $500 for a good target price?

@Northern_munkey

Way different markets, way different products, way different value proposition. PS5 Pro provides negligible (to me) graphical boosts that you would need to compare side by side to see, is my general understanding. For 700 friggin dollars USD, plus tax, sans disc drive. That's a no from me, dawg.

A handheld is a whole different ball game and the value of it is enormous to some. And those same people that see and like the value proposition would not consider the Portal a legit handheld device in any way shape or form or a proper successor to, say, the VITA. It's simply a streaming companion device. And according to many, it doesn't even do that well.

Me personally? I'd pay a ludicrous amount for the - right - device, but at the same time I am intensely distrustful of Sony's handheld products after the VITA was unceremoniously taken behind the woodshed and shot like a rabid dog. I would wait several years to see whether Sony pulls support as they have a habit of doing with anything besides their flagship home consoles. We are seeing that happen again right now with the VR2. Sony have a bit of a Google thing going on with their hardware where the have a tendency to drop support quick (outside of the big home consoles).

TLDR: 1.) Handheld doesn't target the same market as the Pro exactly, 2.) I would pay enormous sums for a competent device but wouldn't buy a Pro to save a puppy's life, and 3.) I don't trust Sony's track record in the handheld category, so waiting is advisable in any case.

A lot of words to say different people just want different things.

@Nem

Definitely did the VITA dirty. All because of the stupid proprietary memory cards that cost up to $100 each. Yeesh.

Sony abandoned the VITA, they abandoned the VR2 (so far). Their implementation of 3D tech in the PS3 era was hamstrung, lousy, and undersupported. Sixaxis, Move, EyeToy and PS Camera implementation was also shockingly bad. The PS2 HDD attachment to play online games was appalling in how it was supported. The PS4 Pro is debatable only because it delivered on its promise of HDR and semi-4k, but the actual Pro modes in supported games were lacking and pretty rarely implemented (Oooh, more foliage in Monster Hunter World).

So far their only wins outside of home consoles in my book are the original VR and the PSP.

I will take a wait and see approach as they have burnt through my trust at this point. If they release something, I'm waiting 2 years this time. No more day one purchases of hardware from me.

@UnlimitedSevens A sensible approach. 👍

@Nem

I've been playing PlayStation since 1995. You better believe I keep score. Sony has a long rap sheet with me 😆

@UnlimitedSevens "I just don't understand and I'm not sure I want to either." I don't ever quote myself but I feel people are missing this bit 🤔

@Northern_munkey

Hey I don't make the rules, okay! A person comments, I guess sometimes people respond. Sometimes a lot of people, apparently. I think that's how it worked since the AOL days but I'm willing to be corrected on that.

And if you don't like the comment, remember: it was provided free of charge and there is a strict no refunds policy in place.

Cheers mate, and enjoy your Pro. It's all in good fun.

@UltimateOtaku91

Yeah. But the worst with telling the US prices is that all prices in the US are announced without taxes etc. So it’s almost always more expensive, depending on which state you live in 🤦🏻‍♂️ So confusing.. And it gives a false picture of the actual price.

Here in Sweden all prices must be put out with taxes and ***** already accounted for. Then again, we don’t have different taxes and so on across the country. And tech is really expensive here…. We might be a rich country overall, but the government has come up with all kinds of taxes on tech (on everything!) to save the environment etc, , so everything is expensive these days here, but tech especially. But yeah, hard to save the world with 10 million people….. 🤦🏻‍♂️ But typically Sweden, we gotta show the way! 🫠

@UnlimitedSevens I don't have a pro yet but thanks anyway. I didn't mind the comment and I didn't take it as a pop either I was simply high lighting the key part of my comment that tells most people I didn't need a response and things explaining to me..I was thinking out loud I guess..no harm done 👍

@Northern_munkey

Ah thanks. Yeah it's weird. Everyone's got an opinion and is just dying to share them, even while acknowledging opinions are inherently worthless. I'm guilty of that for sure. Though sometimes it does spark some pretty decent discussion and I learn something.

I was bad mouthing the Pro the other day and someone mentioned it enhances PSVR2 games. I had no idea and it made me rethink my position. Ultimately landed at the same conclusion to be honest, but I had a moment for a second there I won't lie. I like getting schooled by other people who love this hobby just as much as I do, and interesting things can happen among all these weird and seemingly useless debates. I'm an optimist, what can I say.

@UnlimitedSevens sometimes because of the nature of comment sections such as these where the majority of users are complete strangers and don't know each others age etc,etc,etc sometimes people can feel as if the youngsters are patronising them. I'm 52 and I've played all the key video game systems from atari,colleco vision,vectrex (ask your dad's kids) and all the home computer systems and console generations. That dosnt mean I'm an expert in the tech behind them but it does rub me the wrong way sometimes when a pip squeak 3 decades younger than me starts to "school" me about what's what. Now for me personally the ps5 Pro is worth the layout eventually seeing as I only play at home as its kind of hard to play anything when I'm out and about. Now I know people want a handheld and I can understand why and the convenience it brings but what I don't understand is the mindset where the price of the ps5 Pro is abhorrent but then in the same breath can see no issue throwing silly money at a handheld. I'll never insult somebody for buying anything if that's what they choose to do with their money and I'd hope that people would have the same outlook but sadly it's not the case. There's going to be a lot of people who will buy one of these and then complain it dosnt do the dishes blah,blah,blah and those are the people I don't understand..

@Northern_munkey

Oh good, I was hoping the AOL reference wouldnt't be lost on you.

You perfectly summarized how I feel. I'm pushing 40 so I'm a bit behind you. But getting lectured by people who weren't even alive when the first Matrix movie came out and who think Y2K is a Korean pop band is wild. You love to see it.

So interesting to see the ebb and flow of things over time in this industry. Hey you think people argued back then whether the Atari 5200 was worth the upgrade price over the Atari 2600? 😆 Because, adjusted for inflation that thing was $882 in today's money. You know they went at it like cats and dogs in the playground over the few extra pixels, they just didn't have internet yet.

I guess my thing is, the more things change - and they have changed so much - the more they stay the same. We are still doing the same crap today we were doing in the '80s. And the '90s. And so on. That's interesting in a cosmic kind of way.

But I digress. Just random thoughts. Back on point, I like that PushSquare's audience seems to be older. Because there's more respect and awareness of repeating trends. And better discussion to be had.

But I'm with you, these kids need to go learn a thing or two. Wouldn't know the difference between a PS1 and a George Foreman grill. And just forget about Atari era stuff. Calecovision and Vectrex? Might as well be speaking a different language.

Get off my lawn!

@Northern_munkey mate, no-one is patronising you ok. I am 43 for the record, hardly a pip squeak. This is how it works, you comment on an internet platform you open yourself up to replies whether you want them or not. If you don't want them, don't post. Or at least think about the way you say it first. You said you "didn't understand", you can't make a statement like that and expect people not to reply and then get sore when they do.

@KaiBrunnenG @Northern_munkey

I feel like we are just like a bunch of old people arguing with each other in a virtual nursing home at this point. And I'm here for that. It's what it's all about really.

He does have those Vectrex credentials though, that's heavy. That's like the Vietnam vet telling war stories, you have to respect it (I reserve the right to make this joke as a veteran).

I can't compete, I came in at the Sega Genesis. A peasant among royalty. He's got a point though. I mean Fortnight? Really? What's wrong with these kids.

I miss arguing about this stuff on GameFAQs forums back in the 90s.

@UnlimitedSevens It is a bit like that, lol. I fully respect the old time gamers and the crap we had back then. I cut my teeth on c64 and a zx spectrum. Also had the misfortune to own a philips cdi at one point. I've owned a gameboy, lynx and a game gear along the way. The handhelds offer much needed variation in how you play and not comparable to home consoles at all. This is all I'm trying to say, to offer the difference in value between a ps5pro (which offers little upgrade) and handhelds (which allow you to game without the use of a tv and literally anywhere you want).

@KaiBrunnenG you don't have to respond and I wasn't getting sore..that's in your head mate 👍

@Northern_munkey You're literally complaining because a couple of people have tried to explain something you said you did not understand. 🤦

@KaiBrunnenG complaining no..discussing yes.

@Northern_munkey If you say so.

@Member_the_game The majority of our audience is from the US, so we tend to default to USD these days, but GBP prices should be in there when relevant, you're right. Added them in (though not for our poll results).

What partly made the PSP so great to me was its own library. Obviously streaming would be the new norm, but something else is needed to make it work for me.

Sony making this a dedicated device would not work. They wouldn't be able to provide enough experiences between PlayStation, VR, and a handheld. The fear of this becoming a true Vita successor is not likely and a poor business decision. This will definitely be a companion device.

Nintendo cleaned up their portfolio by committing to one platform and it's one of the best selling consoles of all time. Can't expect them to ever go back to a two platform strategy, so why would Sony.

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