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For months there have been reports in the games industry about a possible return by Sony to the handheld console market. The topic has gained momentum again after comments from the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment at a meeting with investors. Although the company did not announce any new device, remarks suggested that PlayStation’s future will not be limited solely to playing on the TV. For many observers this is another hint of a new generation of hardware. For now, however, the company remains tight-lipped about specific plans.
Sony wants to expand PlayStation beyond the living room
During talks with investors, the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hideaki Nishino, acknowledged that the way people use games has clearly changed over the years. More and more players are using computer monitors, mobile devices and more flexible gaming setups instead of a traditional TV in the living room. For that reason Sony wants to grow the PlayStation ecosystem so it can provide access to games in different places and on different devices. Nishino also noted the positive reception of the PlayStation Portal device, which showed that users are interested in a portable way to access the PlayStation ecosystem. According to the president, future solutions will use technologies that allow gaming in various forms and locations. Although there was no direct announcement of a new handheld console, many analysts took his words as another hint about a project related to PlayStation 6. At the same time Sony emphasised that it does not intend to sell new hardware below production costs. This is particularly important while electronic component prices remain very high. The final decision on a new device will therefore also depend on the situation in the component market.
A portable PlayStation could become an important part of the next generation
Speculation has been circulating in the industry for some time that Sony is working on a fully fledged portable console capable of running PlayStation games natively, rather than just via streaming. Such hardware wouldn't need to match PlayStation 5 performance, because a 1080p screen requires far less compute power than 4K TVs. Advances in modern AMD processors and image upscaling technologies make building an efficient mobile device increasingly feasible. Many experts think a launch might not come until around 2027, when component production becomes cheaper and the games lineup is even richer. Such hardware would allow Sony to compete more effectively with Nintendo, the Steam Deck and the growing number of portable gaming PCs. Another advantage could be PlayStation exclusives, which still arrive on PC with long delays or remain available only on Sony consoles. That way a new handheld could become an attractive addition to the whole PlayStation ecosystem. For now, however, all information remains speculative, as Sony has not officially announced any new device.
Statements by Sony's president have once again stoked speculation about a new portable PlayStation console. Although the company has not confirmed work on such hardware, increasing signs suggest PlayStation's future may reach beyond traditional gaming in front of the TV.
source: digitaltrends
