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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 $399 up to $649, depending on the model and amount of storage. Asus' ROG Ally line starts at $499 and goes up to $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; 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 could 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 42

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 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.

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