Highlights
- Sony may be developing a new handheld gaming device.
- The rumored handheld would cater to the demand for playing modern PlayStation games on a portable device, similar to the PlayStation Portal.
- This move would not limit Sony's pursuit of the PlayStation 6 as a traditional home console, allowing it to cater to both portable and high-powered gaming experiences.
According to a new rumor, Sony could be working on a new PlayStation handheld gaming device. Sony's first handheld gaming system was the PlayStation Portable, and while it failed to beat the Nintendo DS in overall sales, it was still quite successful. Sony followed up the PSP with the PlayStation Vita in 2012, but unfortunately, Sony's second handheld gaming system flopped compared to its predecessor.
The PS Vita boasted significant power and some quality games, but sold a fraction of what the PSP did. Many have assumed that Sony would stay out of the handheld gaming space with the PS Vita's demise, and so far it has, but a reputable leaker has suggested that a new handheld from the gaming giant could very well be in the works.
Forgotten PSP Feature Still Works 16 Years Later
Despite being generations old at this point, one long-forgotten PlayStation Portable feature is still surprisingly operational.
Popular YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead has released a video where the claim is made that Sony is working on a new handheld gaming system. According to the video, PlayStation has already paid AMD to produce the device, but it is still in the very early stages of production and may not actually come to fruition. It's speculated that the device could potentially run PS4 games and maybe even PS5 games that receive a special patch, and therefore function more like a Steam Deck than something like the PSP or PS Vita, so that way Sony doesn't have to produce games specifically for the new device.
New Sony Handheld Rumored to Be in Development
Sony has already dipped its toes in giving PlayStation gamers the chance to play PS4 and PS5 games on a handheld. The PlayStation Portal device uses streaming to let PlayStation gamers have at least some portability when it comes to accessing their PS4 and PS5 library, though it has some obvious drawbacks that a dedicated, Steam Deck-like handheld could solve.
While some may be disappointed that the new Sony handheld, if it exists, won't necessarily have exclusive games, it does match with recent industry trends. It would basically be PlayStation's answer to the Nintendo Switch and Valve's Steam Deck.
Time will tell if the rumored handheld PlayStation console is real or not, but it's a move that would make a lot of sense. The PlayStation Portal has already proven quite popular, and so there is proven demand to play modern PlayStation games on a handheld device. Such a device also wouldn't limit Sony from pursuing the PlayStation 6, which will presumably be a traditional home console and deliver the kind of power associated with such a product.
