Sony’s time in the handheld console space has been both short-lived and underperforming, but perhaps that could change with a new handheld capable of playing PS5 games natively. A new report states that Sony is currently working on such a handheld.
It would be a console that allows the user to play games locally on the device. Rather than through Sony’s Remote Play feature for the PlayStation Portal that Sony released in 2023. Sony also recently updated the Portal to support cloud streaming if you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber. Again, though, this relies on cloud streaming. With an internet connection being a very necessary component for the gaming to take place.
This newly rumored Sony PS5 handheld would truly allow gamers to play their favorite games anywhere. Even if there’s no internet connection, assuming they’re not trying to play a game that needs internet to work.
The Sony PS5 handheld is “years away”
The prospect of Sony making a handheld for native gameplay is an exciting one. Especially since its PSP and PS Vita were so beloved by the majority of gamers who went out and bought one. Even though the PS Vita didn’t sell well, it has a cult following of fans. And for the most part, it was a great little system. Sony just didn’t market or support it very well. It also came at a time when Nintendo dominated the handheld space. Which hasn’t really changed.
More importantly, handhelds just weren’t as popular at the time. That’s something that has changed. The Nintendo Switch exploded in popularity and has become one of the best-selling consoles of all time. That’s been followed by the Steam Deck and several other gaming handhelds that play PC games locally, including the ASUS ROG Ally X. So perhaps the time is right for Sony to enter this space and have the console be a hit. After all, the PlayStation Portal has exceeded Sony’s sales predictions.
The major caveat here is the release time. As it currently stands, there isn’t one. According to Bloomberg, which cites anonymous sources familiar with Sony’s plans, the console is still years away. There’s also the very real possibility that Sony changes its mind and decides not to continue development at some point down the road.
Sony is making the console to compete with Nintendo and Microsoft
Despite now just being a great time to release a handheld, Sony is also reportedly making this console to compete with Nintendo and Microsoft. Nintendo is already a leader in this gaming space thanks to the Switch. The company is also preparing to launch the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in the first half of next year. Microsoft has also confirmed that it’s considering an Xbox handheld.
Sony wants a piece of that pie. The plan is to potentially extend Sony’s reach and get its PS5 games into more hands. It’s also highly likely that a large portion of PS5 owners would opt to buy one. If that were the case, Sony could capture a part of the market that doesn’t really want a home console, in addition to those who already own a PS5 and want a way to play their games on the go without the requirement of an internet connection.
