Sony has reportedly set its sights on the handheld console scene, marking its return with a new portable PlayStation system in the works that would allow PS5 games to be played on the go — a move set to rival Nintendo’s massive success with the Switch.
As reported by Bloomberg, the unannounced console is currently being developed and comes as part of the company’s efforts to expand the market for PlayStation games. “Sony’s portable device is likely years away from launch and the company could still decide against bringing it to market, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private plans,” said the outlet.
The portable device, if it even comes to fruition, would mark a true successor to the console’s current streaming accessory, the PlayStation Portal, which according to Bloomberg, was originally intended to work as a standalone device similar to Valve’s Steam Deck for the PC.
“Building a mobile device that’s capable of directly playing PS5 games would potentially make Sony’s software more accessible and appealing to a wider audience,” Bloomberg wrote. “The company has taken several steps in recent times in that direction, including making a bigger push into mobile and PC gaming as well as live-service titles.”
Of course, Sony has its own history of handheld consoles that can be traced back to its first foray in 2004 — the PlayStation Portable (PSP), which launched in Japan on 12 December near the end of the PS2’s lifecycle. Its successor, the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) came next in December 2011 and was intended to meld the experience of big-budget titles on a mobile platform to compete against Nintendo, but was unfortunately a commercial failure for the company. The result led to the discontinuation of both handheld devices, with Sony shifting its focus back onto home consoles.
With no true portable standalone gaming hardware since 2011, Sony certainly has a lot riding on this unannounced gaming device, and it’d be interesting to see whether it will incorporate some of the more noteworthy elements from the main console, such as adaptive triggers or haptic feedback functionality to make it truly a unique handheld experience.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Si Jia
