We've heard a lot about Xbox's plans to create a handheld console at some point in the future, but we didn't know that PlayStation was planning one as well - apparently that's the case according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The outlet says that Sony is in "the early stages" of developing a handheld that may or may not come to the market as it's still years away from launch. This would be different to the recently released PlayStation Portal device, which works using remote play - instead, the suggestion seems to be that it would play PlayStation 5 games natively.
"Sony Group Corp. is in the early stages of developing a portable console that would play its PlayStation 5 games on the move."
It's also mentioned in the report that Xbox is prototyping handheld consoles, which has been assumed but not confirmed by Microsoft so far. Recently, Xbox's Phil Spencer said he "loved" the idea of building a device in the future.
Obviously a lot of things could change before both an Xbox handheld and a PlayStation handheld are released into the market, and there's no guarantee we'll see either of them. Right now though, handhelds are clearly all the rage!
Do you think this'll end up happening? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section below.
[source bloomberg.com]
Comments 42
I'm sure that next generation there will be a home Xbox and a handheld Xbox, but it could also be a hybrid that gets more powerful docked. The only problem with a new Sony handheld is that it will be completely restrictive like Vita and Portal and could be abandoned by its creator, like Vita or PSVR, if it doesn't meet Sony's expectations.
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@Banjo- How do you mean when you say restrictive? I think it will both companies will deliver a device that plays current gen (Series /5) and previous gen games and be download only.
Given that next gen will likely be very cross gen, like this current one, they should both have a device that launches with a large catalogue of backwards compatible games.
If its an handheld that can play already existing games then it has a chance. Otherwise, they are entering the Nintendo Death Zone! Remember the Sony PSP? At the time, everyone said it was going to crush the Nintendo DS. Then it didn’t.
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@Ilyn I was thinking of things like Vita's memory cards, Portal not supporting third-party earbuds and being very limited overall, restrictive digital sales, upgrade fees, no free cloud saves, Sony using proprietary video and audio systems and not supporting Dolby Vision nor Dolby Atmos, etc. [EDIT: PS5 added Dolby Atmos support for games recently]
Regarding software, do you see third parties and Sony patching the whole PS4-PS5 library (for free), so it can run on a new device? If it supports PS5 software natively, no problem, but is it feasible? If it has downgraded versions of PS5 games, it would be extra work. It wouldn't be as straightforward as third-party handheld PCs and even Xbox that run Windows OS because Windows (PC and Xbox) games are more easily scaled down and they are designed for different hardware configurations. Sony could use the PC ports of its exclusives for this handheld, but then Sony's handheld would be running Windows and that's almost impossible.
Makes me laugh how the 2 big boys want to play handheld or hybrid now Nintendo and a few others have shown them the way.
Sit back time and watch them both mess it up apart from a few fans and must have new tech gang buying one.
My logic might be flawed, but isn't Sony already in this market? Portal streams PS5 and cloud games. My assumption is this new console would be Portal 2, including streaming PS5, cloud games, and last gen local play (or something similar).
I do hope MS can enter handheld arena strongly, meaning with a proper device and ecosystem (as MS branded Rog Ally alternative won't cut it).
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I can see a handheld Steam Deck alike been something Microsoft might do (position it as a “reference device” for other makers like the Surface Pro/Laptop lines, make some small adjustments to windows 11 and the Xbox app for it, as neither is great on a handheld currently!)
But I don’t think they will do what most would consider a console. And to be honest, I’m so downbeat about their lacklustre efforts on home console these last two gens, I have zero faith they will make something worth buying.
My guess is that word Xbox are making a handheld certainly won’t be what’s giving Nintendo sleepless nights!
@Banjo- With the portal I feel like a lot of that stuff was left out mainly to keep the price down to promote sales. You can use the inbuilt sound, or any wired set, or you can use any bluetooth set if you get a bluetooth jack. You are not solely limited to any one headset.
It just seems a weird issue to have when the majority of headsets will work on the PS5 but you need the Xbox version to get it working on Xbox. Likewise Xbox with those silly expansion cards rather than just allowing users to fit an m2 drive. Both companies have always done questionable things, but Vita was a long time ago and things have changed loads since then.
I think for the device they would make it so the games simply work on the device without every game requiring patches, in the same way the PS5 can play 4 games without everygame being patched. I am pretty sure it would be managable in the timescale they have as we are probably talking 12-18m minimum
Gonna be honest don’t know why Microsoft are bothering, they don’t with their home console especially outside USA.
I would focus on trying to make quality AAA games and backing the right games for game pass and leave the hardware to the others.
I'll buy whatever Sony does and get off Xbox because hey! It's an Xbox!
@Banjo- Also I really do not understand this continued narrative that Sony has abandoned the PSVR2 as its simply nonsense. it seems like the entire basis for abandoning it was the news that most first party studios are making PS5 games, and not VR games.
That was always going to be the case as VR is always going to have a smaller user base. The first party games they did make where top tier and there are loads of high quality 3rd party games releasing regularly also.
Not to mention now its bedded in they have started adding VR2 games to premium every month, which shows they have not just abandoned it.
Personally I think VR2 is brilliant and can't imagine playing certain games without it ever again. RE4 for example was incredible, and having to play normally for the Seperate Ways highlighted how transformative it can be for gaming. I don't think I could go back now and Im just glad I have the option of being able to use VR.
@Kilamanjaro
Yep, if you totally wanted to send out mixed messages and a dam daft advert.
We can really on a massive USA company to do that, especially Microsoft.
This is an Xbox.
Sony will squeeze every last penny out if you if they make a handheld, they already lock you to their digital store for Everything, digital games, subscriptions and even make you buy a subscription for cloud saves! , having no disc drive option whatsoever will be a dream come true for them.
Sony have much better pedigree to build a gaming handheld, but Microsoft potentially have a much bigger library and more compatibility.
@Rog-X
Will totally agree on the cloud game saves locked behind membership. Also even if you are a member like me, your family don’t get cloud saves if they log onto your PS5.
You each have to have your own membership to get cloud saves.
To me there is combinations of both Xbox and PlayStation that I wish I could combine and have the best of both.
@Ilyn I love the “Sony has abandoned VR” narrative. By the end of this year, PSVR2 will have over 250 games supporting it which equates to more than 10 games releasing per month. While they haven’t been developing many themselves they have been bringing in more than enough third party deals to ensure that VR players always have something to play. It’s an insane amount of choice and variety for a niche peripheral with a high barrier to entry but I guess people will continue to consider it abandoned unless Sony starts knocking out 3-5 first party VR titles a year.
@GeeEssEff From Android Central and Bloomberg:
Last year, Sony released just three PSVR 2 games and has yet to officially announce even one first-party game coming out for the system in 2024, let alone in 2025. Of those three games, Firewall Ultra developer First Contact Entertainment has since shut down. To add insult to injury, Sony then closed down London Studio in February—a team responsible for another of the PSVR's highest-rated games, Blood & Truth, as well as the PlayStation VR Worlds demo disc.
Bloomberg reports that Sony has stopped producing new PSVR2 units as it tries to clear out a growing backlog of unsold inventory.
@Banjo- I like the idea of a dockable handheld console in theory, but it has some obvious flaws e.g.
So while I like the idea on paper, i'm not sure it will happen considering this is meant to be the "greatest technical leap in a console generation", the two ideas seem incompatible.
FYI PS5 does support Dolby Atmos.
@Ilyn @Banjo- Re: Bluetooth on Portal. I wish Sony would enable it. But I understand why they don't, there is a noticeable delay on Bluetooth, it's a technology that doesn't work well with gaming. It's awful on Switch. Though it seems some people just can't, or don't, notice this, though I imo it's very obvious when you know. It's the reason both Xbox and PlayStation use their own proprietary wireless formats.
@themightyant I didn't know that PS5 supported Dolby Atmos. Since when? Regarding the Xbox and PS handhelds, they both face the same technical obstacles and I agree with that. The only advantage that Xbox has when facing those limitations is that it would benefit from the open Xbox/PC/Windows ecosystem where games are more easily scaled down, while PS is a closed ecosystem with its own OS.
I notice the Bluetooth lag for controllers. I don't use Bluetooth earbuds often, but a wired headset for online gaming and not always. I used Bluetooth earbuds once for Switch and it wasn't great.
@OldGamer999 I'm an 'old gamer' too and although we had Atari Lynx, Gameboy, Game Gear etc, they weren't as commonplace as the switch is now. I work in a high school and so many kids play games on their phones including 'AAA'. I think there is definitely a market for those who don't have a PC (Asus Rog/Steam deck etc).
I personally will never want to play on a small screen unless it's my Switch undocked on a long haul flight but plenty of young people are really into it on a daily basis.
I am wary of anything PlayStation puts out , that is not their main console. PlayStation has come up with many cool and unique accessories and add-on’s throughout the years, that they stopped supporting after the first year rush.
Everyone is talking already about the support drop of the psvr2.
I myself will never buy one as I purchased the 1st only for them drop support by the 1st year.
PlayStation’s track record is not very good, PlayStation Eye, Move, PSP, PSP Go, wonderbook, Vita, PSVR, etc….
@OldGamer999
I agree completely. As an American I can say Microsoft isn’t even pushing the Xbox here in the states.
Aside from a few promotions and a yearly Mountain Dew tie in, marketing has been DOA this generation. They are not even bothered to advertise in their home country.
@Gkobz Also a Sony Bravia lineup that supported PS cloud gaming and PS4 controllers, soon after they also stopped supporting that.
Microsoft just can't catch a break. They were planning to enter the handheld market because they just can't compete with Sony in the home console space, being outsold 6:1 in Europe alone last month. Now comes Sony with a handheld PS5 right behind them.
@Gkobz
I think Octobers 2024 USA sales numbers are stating to show this now.
Something like.
PS5 320k
Xbox 182k
Their home turf is taking a beating now as well.
And Europe is almost a no go Xbox zone.
I'm less excited for a Playstation handheld than an xbox handheld but I will definitely consider it. I don't buy digital games on psn or subscribe to their services so I don't know what value it would have to me.
Hopefully sony will have learned from the vita and psvr failures that a different game catalog for this device will only hurt it. It needs to just be all ps5 games working natively. It will also be interesting to see how they will be able to optimize the games for a smaller device. What will the fps and resolution look like? Will they have bad performance like a lot of their pc ports have at launch?
@OldGamer999
This whole generation they seem to be taking a beating, but now everything’s an Xbox!
Next quarter prediction:
Ps5:400k
Xbox: 1mil. +
lol
@Banjo- Dolby Atmos has been supported on bluray for years. I read recently that they now support it for games.
@BleedingDreamer Thanks for that, I knew that PS5 didn't support Dolby Atmos for games, but I didn't know that it does now.
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@Rog-X Reminder the only reason we pay to play online is because of MS.
I've never understood the use case for handheld gaming. You're either at home, or there's a specific reason why you're not at home, and so you can't play games. I can't play a video game while I'm driving, or shopping, or working, or exercising, or any of the other reasons why I leave the house.
Yes I guess some people regularly spend hours on public transport, but surely that isn't enough people to sustain an actual product. And anyway, who wants to ruin their experience by playing on a small screen in a noisy environment with uncomfortable controls and no elbow room? Have some respect for the game you're playing!
Anyway whatever, my position in this comment is deliberately a bit ridiculous but I'm just trying to say no I don't want it.
Honestly think a Sony and Xbox handheld would both be doomed to failure. Why get either? Xbox consoles don't even sell that much nevermind a handheld too.
I'm excited for an Xbox portable. While I can play GP on the Steam Deck, I want to be able to play my library and GP. While MS has started streaming your library, it's too few games and there is no guarantee all games would get included.
MS can really be a bear with hardware, but they've made some good strides with the Surface. I'm hopeful they can push out a serious competitor to the Deck.
@Old_Man_Harper the psp was amazing , idk what you’re talking about
@Banjo- I doubt Sony would make a proprietary handheld like the vita again.
After the success of the switch it’d bet it would be more along the lines of combining with the home console or playing ps4/5/6 games via download. Probably similar to Xbox’s.
@DennisReynolds
Nobody forced Sony or Nintendo to follow/adopt Microsoft's greed in requiring payment for online gaming...they've made a choice to do so.
@datamonkey Yes, it's very likely that the Xbox and PS handhelds are not dedicated handhelds when even the king of handhelds Nintendo has dropped the dual development. The advantage that Xbox has is that PCs and Xbox run Windows and they are learning from the handheld PCs as confirmed by Phil Spencer, not to mention the existence of Play Anywhere and free cross-platform cloud saves. Xbox is an open ecosystem already. PS has their own OS and the games (and even the save files) are not designed for a variety of hardware configurations. Even for the same-gen PS5 Pro, the PS5 games have to be patched with different levels of success, so it's much trickier.
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