Sony has reportedly been developing a handheld console capable of running PS5 games natively. PlayStation parent company is in the early stages of developing the device, Bloomberg reported last week. That claim has now been backed up by Digital Foundry, which reported on Monday that Sony is indeed developing a handheld device, citing sources. The company last year launched the PlayStation Portal, a handheld device that acts as a remote player for the PS5.
Sony’s new handheld device reports gaining support
In the latest DF Direct Weekly show on YouTube, Digital Foundry, known for its in-depth technical analysis of games and gaming hardware, confirmed reports of a new PlayStation handheld console.
“…We actually heard about this handheld device a few months ago from several sources. We’re not trying to leak information, but it’s interesting that this thing is finally starting to circulate because it just confirms what we’ve seen and heard about this existing device – which is cool,” Digital Foundry’s John Linneman said at the show.
“To me, it just reinforces the idea that, yes, they’re trying to do something. And this article makes it seem further away than I actually think it is,” he added.
According to him, Sony may already have a prototype of a handheld device. “So, I’m not sure where it’s going to go; I think there might be something like a prototype. There’s still a lot of questions about that, but it does feel like there’s a good chance of handheld and home console options in the future.”
Sony has yet to comment on its reported plans for a new gaming handheld computer that can run PS5 games on the go.
PlayStation Portal remote player launching in 2023
Image source: Sony
Last week, Bloomberg reported that the company was developing a new handheld computer designed to serve as a competitor to the highly successful Nintendo Switch. The device will be able to run games natively, just like Sony’s previous handhelds like the PSP and PS Vita. However, according to reports, the handheld device could still be years away from release.
The PlayStation Portal, the company’s latest handheld, can only stream games and media from a connected PS5 over a Wi-Fi connection. This requires the device to be paired with a PS5, which must be in rest mode to enable remote play on the portal.
However, the PlayStation Portal did receive an update in November that added cloud streaming support for certain PS5 games. This feature is currently in beta and is available to PlayStation Plus Deluxe/Premium tier subscribers in select countries. According to Sony, PlayStation Portal users will be able to stream more than 120 PS5 games directly from the company’s servers without having to connect the PS5 to the device.
