Sony might have just alluded to a new PlayStation handheld.
Over the past few weeks, Japanese gaming publication Famitsu has been interviewing various prominent game makers in celebration of its 40th anniversary. One of those featured creators, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino, talked a bit about the future of PlayStation hardware, and he seemed to suggest a portable device in the cards.
During the Japanese-language interview, via IGN, Nishino reiterated his belief that consoles aren’t going anywhere, but he did acknowledge that “pick up and play” functionality is important. In particular, the noted that PlayStation will be “leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations,” which would allow for “exciting” new console experiences. He didn’t elaborate, but the specific mention of form and location certainly suggests some sort of portable device.
His comments are also notable because there have been rumours that PlayStation is indeed working on some sort of dedicated gaming handheld. Per YouTuber Moore’s Law Is Dead last year, this device would come alongside a more traditional PS6 console and have Nintendo Switch-like hybrid functionality, allowing users to play PlayStation games both portably and on a TV.
This would be a marked pivot from PlayStation, which had largely abandoned gaming handhelds after the failure of the PS Vita following its 2011 debut. In 2023, Sony did release the PlayStation Portal, but the handheld isn’t a true successor to the PSP or Vita, given its online-only functionality. This PS6 peripheral, however, would theoretically be a full portable device that could play games natively.
PlayStation’s apparent renewed interest in handhelds also makes more sense now, given that the market has evolved significantly since the Vita through both Nintendo’s Switch family and portable PCs like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally (which even includes Xbox-branded devices).
In any event, we’ll likely have to wait a while to learn more about PlayStation’s hardware plans. Rumours have suggested that Sony might delay the PlayStation 6 amid global component shortages, while the PS5 still has notable games like Marvel’s Wolverine (Sept. 15) and God of War Laufey (TBA) on the way.
Source: Famitsu
