With the incredible success of devices such as the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, it’s no wonder that other companies likeSonyare attempting to break into the handheld console market. Theconfirmation of an Xbox handheld, a first for Microsoft, is evidence of the attempts being made to increase success by making highly popular games available to play on the go. As the handheld market begins to see huge expansions with the aforementioned Xbox handheld and Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a possibility that Sony is also planning to throw its hat in the ring.
Reports claim that Sony is currentlyexploring the possibility of making a PlayStation handheldthat will allow players to play PS5 games on the go. The concept of this rumored handheld initially sounds like a guaranteed hit; the ability to play one of the PS5’s many incredible exclusives from anywhere will surely be appealing to players old and new as those titles are made more accessible. Yet, the idea of a handheld that plays PS5 games might sound familiar to owners of a current PlayStation device.
The PS Portal Defeats The Point Of Another Handheld
Another Handheld Could Cause Confusion For The Consumer
The existence of theseamless and excellent PlayStation Portalmakes the idea of a new handheld quite confusing, asthe Portal fulfills a lot of the requirements for a portable device. Having been released just last year, the Portal already grants the player the ability to play PS5 games on a handheld device. It defeats the purpose of developing another handheld when its main appeal is already being achieved with an existing device.
Adding yet another PlayStation handheld to the current hardware lineup, with similar functions to the Portal, could end up affecting the success of either device. A lack of distinction between either handheld could create confusion for the consumer as it’s unclear which product would be more beneficial, deterring them from making a purchase. Not only would a new PlayStation handheld be pointless with the existence of the Portal,the confusion this could cause would end up being worse for Sonyin the long run, sabotaging its chances of success in portable gaming.
How A New PS Handheld Could Improve On The Portal
Improving On The Portal Would Make A New Handheld More Appealing
Moreover, players can only get the most out of a Portal so long as they maintain a stable internet connection, limiting the portability of the device as a whole. Meanwhile,a new PlayStation handheld could instead grant players the ability to download games, allowing for offline play and making the new device far more accessible than the Portal. An addition such as this would help to increase the chances of success for a new handheld, especially if Sony ensures that consumers are aware of the distinct differences between either device.
The difficulty of downloading games to a PlayStation handheld would be getting it to run PS5 games at their intended performance. Achieving hardware parity with a PS5 simply cannot currently be done in a handheld form factor.
There’s currently no telling what this new PlayStation handheld has in store, or ifSonyis committing to development on the device. However, if work goes ahead on the new handheld, focus should be put on making the device the definitive way to play PS5 games on the go, improving on the Portal’s own limitations. In doing so, the new PlayStation handheld would see far greater success than if it simply emulated the Portal’s current capabilities.
PlayStation 5
The fifth flagship video game console from Sony Computer Entertainment, the PlayStation 5, is a part of the ninth generation of consoles. The console features full backwards compatibility with PlayStation 4 games and features a digital storefront that gives access to older generations. The console can output images at 4K resolution, with alternative options including 1440p at 120 frames per second for gameplay. This console is also known for implementing 3D audio, which allows headphones to be connected to the console for simulated spatially accurate audio.
