Sony has quietly pushed out a brand-new update for the PlayStation Portal, introducing a small selection of helpful quality-of-life changes for the PS5’s handheld. The PlayStation Portal update follows rumors about an updated version of the handheld console on the way.
The PlayStation Portal served as Sony’s long-awaited return to handheld gaming, though the console is not a fully independent device. The handheld console utilizes Sony’s Remote Play infrastructure to connect to a PlayStation 5, allowing users to play without a TV while on the go, provided they have an internet connection. The launch of the Portal served as Sony’s first handheld console release in more than a decade, following Sony’s exit from handheld gaming after the commercial failure of the PlayStation Vita. Now, Sony’s PS5 handheld is getting some helpful new features with a recent update.
PlayStation Portal Gets New Update for October 2026
The PlayStation Portal’s Version 7.3.0 update brought multiple changes to the handheld console to kick off October. The first notable change in the patch gives users the option to turn off 3D Audio while playing games on the PlayStation Portal, allowing players to disable the feature from the system settings. The search function on the PS Portal saw some major improvements with the update as well, including real-time results while typing and the ability to scan a QR code to continue their search in the PlayStation Store, the PlayStation app, or in a web browser. Sony made several minor adjustments as well, including performance and stability enhancements and “improving messages and usability on some screens.”
Put the consoles in the correct order.
While the updates to Sony’s handheld PlayStation console are light on content, the company has continued to support the system since its launch. March saw a major update to the PlayStation Portal, adding the new 1080p High Quality mode to the handheld, which improves the console’s bitrate while using more data to stream from the PS5. The Portal also received updates to several of its on-screen messages in the patch, including clearer notifications for both game invites and trophies.
The continual improvement of the PlayStation Portal comes as the console is rumored to be getting a new revision. Global electronic non-profit association The Wi-Fi Alliance added two new device listings from Sony to its registry in early October, both with similar model numbers to the Portal. The devices are said to run on an Android operating system, similar to the original model, and may be OLED revisions for the PlayStation Portal. A release window for the rumored new PlayStation Portal models was not included as part of the documents.
A new PlayStation Portal joins rumors about a more handheld-focused future for the Sony gaming brand. Early leaks have heavily suggested that the in-development PlayStation 6 may release with a handheld model alongside its home console version, with the handheld said to be more powerful than the Xbox Series S. The console is expected to be digital-only, following the company’s announcement in June 2026 that Sony will be phasing out physical PlayStation discs starting in 2028. The PlayStation 6 is set to feature plenty of departures from Sony’s past consoles and usher in a new era, not only for PlayStation but for the gaming world as a whole.
PlayStation Portal Version 7.3.0 Patch Notes
- You can turn 3D audio on or off while playing a game. Go to Settings > System > 3D Audio.
-
We’ve updated the search experience. You can now:
- See results in real time as you type.
- Scan a QR code to continue your search in PlayStation Store on PlayStation App or in a web browser.
- We’ve improved system software performance and stability.
- We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.
