Sony Reportedly Working on a PlayStation Handheld Console to Support PS5 Games
A Bloomberg report on November 25 revealed that Sony Group Corp is in the early stages of developing a PlayStation handheld console that will reportedly support PS5 games. The development will put Sony on par with its competitors, Nintendo and Microsoft.
Nintendo has been the dominant player in handheld consoles with its Nintendo Switch handheld device. Now, the company is planning to launch the next generation of handheld consoles next year to succeed its current consoles.
Microsoft, the company behind Xbox, is also developing prototypes for an Xbox handheld console. However, the report noted that the company is still far from launching the device.
The report confirmed that Sony’s PS5 handheld console is likely years away from its launch and added that the company could also decide to cancel it. However, Sony Group has not yet made any official comments on the handheld console.
Sony to Launch New Handheld Device
Sony and PlayStation are no strangers to handheld devices. The first handheld console, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), was released in 2004. The PSP’s design supported a variety of applications, including wireless connectivity, video, music, photos, the internet, and more. The popular device, which remained on the market for 10 years and sold over 80 million units, was compatible with the PlayStation 2 and 3.
Sony released another handheld console in 2011, the PlayStation Vita, which was first released in Japan before going international in 2012. The PS Vita supported Bluetooth, WiFi, and Remote Play from the PS4. However, the release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017 caused the PS Vita to stagnate in the gaming markets. Sony completely discontinued the device in 2019.