According to recent reports, Sony is currently in the process of developing a new portable gaming console that aims to rival the offerings from Nintendo and Microsoft. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, which acts more like a remote play device, this ambitious product is designed to let gamers enjoy PlayStation 5 titles on the go, regardless of their location. However, insiders suggest we might be years away from seeing this standalone device hit the shelves, giving Sony ample time to tweak or even scrap the project entirely.
We can draw some parallels between this and what Microsoft has hinted at, with CEO Phil Spencer mentioning that their portable Xbox gaming device could still be several years down the line. Meanwhile, Nintendo continues to dominate the handheld gaming arena, and anticipation is high for the release of their next-gen Switch, expected sometime next year.
When approached for comment, Sony’s spokesperson opted to remain tight-lipped about these plans.
The past few years have seen a significant shift in portable gaming, sparked by the emergence of Valve’s Steam Deck and its updated OLED version. This shift has prompted other tech giants like Asus, Lenovo Legion, Logitech, and MSI to dip their toes into the market as well. Sony and Microsoft find themselves in a favorable position, armed with extensive game libraries and the potential to lure more IPs and developers—whether exclusive or cross-platform—from both indie creators and high-profile AAA studios.
The journey to create a functional portable device compatible with PlayStation 5 games won’t be a quick one. It needs the right hardware combination and a specially tailored firmware to function seamlessly. As the project is still in the early stages of design, there’s always a possibility that Sony might redefine its objectives or even decide to halt it altogether.
Sony isn’t new to the portable gaming scene, having previously released devices like the PlayStation Portable, PSP Vita, and PSP GO. Bloomberg initially reported that the PlayStation Portal was meant to be a standalone gadget, but Sony ultimately chose a remote gaming device with an 8-inch screen that streams games from the PlayStation 5 via Wi-Fi.
Despite past successes with the PSP, Sony now faces tough competition. The company will be jostling not just with traditional rivals like Nintendo but also with cloud gaming services that are hardware-independent—chief among them are Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Microsoft’s Xbox cloud gaming offerings.
There’s no denying the allure of going portable—it broadens the reach to users who might not engage with games on a PC, cloud, or traditional console setup. On the flip side, if Sony opts against releasing a new portable device, it risks being the odd one out in the fast-paced handheld gaming market.
