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happy melon
Oct.30,2023
Is Sony's new handheld console a good value? The streaming device costs $199?! At the end of last month, Sony made an unexpected announcement: they would be adjusting the subscription prices for all tiers of PSN memberships in various regions after September 6th. The price increase for annual memberships exceeded 30%. While the prices for monthly and quarterly memberships remained the same, Sony's decision to significantly increase the cost of annual memberships upset many users. Ignoring the question of whether this pricing is reasonable, such actions affecting users' interests should be communicated in advance. Sony, however, unilaterally decided on this matter. This arrogant behavior angered many users, and after the official announcement of the annual membership price increase, a large number of users decided not to renew their subscriptions. Interestingly, Sony chose the timing of this price increase just before the early access day of Microsoft's game "Starfield," which is a direct competitor to Sony's offerings. One can't help but wonder if Sony had insider information about the media reviews of "Starfield" that gave them the confidence to make such a move. Of course, complaints aside, many users will still continue to subscribe, especially those who engage in online multiplayer. Since Sony doesn't offer cloud saves and online multiplayer functionality in the basic membership, players interested in these services will need to subscribe to at least one tier. Regardless of the criticism, Sony's PSN membership remains a necessity for many, but their upcoming handheld gaming device seems to be less appealing. Just a day after Sony announced the PSN membership price increase, they also unveiled the release date of their new remote gaming device, the PlayStation Portal. This device is set to be released on November 15th at a price of $199.99 and is now available for pre-order in the United States, the UK, Europe, and other regions. The PlayStation Portal is a peripheral product designed to provide a remote gaming experience for the PS5. It features an 8-inch high-definition LCD screen, supports 1080P/60FPS gameplay, DualSense's adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback. Using PlayStation Link wireless technology, this device can connect wirelessly to the PS5 for remote gaming. In fact, rumors of Sony's plans to release a new handheld gaming device started circulating as early as April this year. Initially, it was believed that Sony was preparing to launch a second-generation PSV or an upgraded version. Some enthusiastic players even started designing their own concepts for Sony's new handheld. Later reports suggested that Sony's rumored new handheld, "Project Q," was not a traditional gaming handheld but rather a streaming device designed specifically for the PS5. Many players initially doubted the accuracy of this information, as Nintendo's Switch and Steam Deck already had a firm grip on the handheld market, making the launch of a so-called "streaming handheld" seem non-competitive. However, to everyone's surprise, Sony delivered on the rumors very quickly, revealing the "streaming handheld." The device's appearance was rather unconventional, resembling a cut-up PS5 controller with a screen inserted in the middle. It can't be called aesthetically pleasing and has been criticized for its appearance. On top of its abstract design, the device's functionality leaves much to be desired. Based on the official information, the Portal's only purpose is to play games from the PS5 via streaming. Essentially, it is a display with a controller that lacks any gaming processing capability. Furthermore, it's worth noting that this streaming device, PlayStation Portal, is abbreviated as "PSP." Isn't it audacious to borrow the abbreviation from Sony's legendary PlayStation Portable? To be honest, creating a streaming device tailored for the PS5 makes sense, considering the needs of a particular segment of users. However, the pricing seems exorbitant. For almost $199, one could easily afford a Nintendo Switch Lite or invest a bit more for a Steam Deck. Both of these options offer the ability to play games anytime and anywhere, while purchasing the Portal requires a full PS5 setup and provides no reasonable value proposition. Another issue with streaming devices is the presence of some level of latency, which can significantly affect the gaming experience. While it may not be as exaggerated as your character dying before you can even dodge an enemy attack in "Sekiro," latency in streaming devices can delay button inputs, particularly detrimental in fast-paced games. Not surprisingly, this feature-limited product was met with widespread disappointment, with most users finding little reason to buy the PlayStation Portal. In a poll conducted by the foreign media Pushsquare, only 9% of players were willing to support it at launch. More than half of the players either felt the price was too high or had no interest in the device. The dissatisfaction with PlayStation Portal largely stems from the high expectations for a new handheld from Sony. The immense success of the Steam Deck and ASUS's ROG Ally proved that there is still untapped potential in the handheld gaming market. Given Sony's technical prowess, creating a handheld gaming device that rivals the PS4's capabilities should have been feasible. Coupled with Sony's brand appeal and nostalgia for the PSP and PSV handhelds, such a product could have shaken up the industry once again. But now it's too late. Sony has introduced a product that can best be described as a "hybrid," and the prospects of a resurgence in Sony's handheld gaming era look bleak. In the end, we can't help but say, "Jim, you really messed up!"
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Lion
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Nov.2,2023
hao Bong
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Oct.21,2024
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