Sony has started developing a new portable game console that will support PlayStation 5 games. Sony is working on a new handheld console to avoid falling behind in the competition in the portable gaming market. According to Bloomberg, this device aims to strengthen Sony’s position in this segment where major competitors such as Nintendo and Microsoft exist.
However, it is stated that the development phase of the device is still at an early stage and it may take several years for it to be released. It is also among the information received that Sony has not made a final decision on whether to release this product.
Nintendo, which has had a strong place in the portable game console market for many years, has achieved significant success, especially with the Switch model. The next generation version of this popular console of the company is expected to be introduced in 2025. Microsoft also announced that it is working on a portable Xbox prototype. However, Phil Spencer, head of the company’s gaming unit, stated that the development process of this device may take several years.
In addition, interest in PC platforms in the portable gaming category has also increased. Portable devices such as Valve’s Steam Deck and Asus’ ROG Ally attract attention among gamers and contribute to the diversification of this market.
Sony is no stranger to portable game consoles
Sony’s experience with portable game consoles is nothing new. The company had previously participated in this market with devices such as PSP and PS Vita. However, the production of these devices was stopped many years ago. Sony introduced a portable gaming device called PlayStation Portal in 2022. This device offered the opportunity to play PS5 games with a cloud connection over Wi-Fi. However, it is stated that the newly developed device will run games directly on the device and will not need an internet connection.
It is already a matter of debate how this new initiative of Sony will compete with strong rivals such as Nintendo and Microsoft in the portable gaming market. However, considering that the project is still at an early stage, it can be said that Sony’s plans in this field will become clear in the long term.