PlayStation Portal update adds public Wi-Fi support and more this week

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has detailed the latest system software update for PlayStation Portal.

Launching on Wednesday, it will improve Wi-Fi network connection options and introduce new visual feedback for touchpad areas, among other features.

Once the update has been installed, players will be able to connect to public Wi-Fi networks that require additional validation steps beyond entering a password, such as those found in hotels, cafes and airports.

If a network requires additional validation, PS Portal will generate a QR code for players to scan using a mobile or tablet, which can then be used to complete the necessary sign-in steps.

The update will also introduce new visual effects when players tap or swipe the Portal’s emulated touchpad areas.

And players will now have the option to display a battery percentage indicator on the status bar at the top right corner of the Portal’s screen.

“We’re excited to see that PS Portal has introduced many more gamers to the Remote Play feature on PS5, with over 60 percent of PS Portal owners using the feature for the first time,” SIE’s VP of product management, Hiromi Wakai, claimed in a PlayStation Blog post, citing internal data.

“What’s more, PS Portal is making it easier for many players to access their games, with the average PS Portal owner’s engagement on PS5 going up within the first 8 weeks of using their PS Portal.

“We’ve also seen a wide range of games proven to be popular on PS Portal, from single player adventures including God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Astro’s Playroom to multiplayer titles including Fortnite, Rocket League and EA Sports FC 24 – all being some of the most played games on PS Portal within the first three months of its launch.”