Sony Allegedly Developing a New PlayStation Portable Device
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, two tech giants are set to shake things up. Sony and Microsoft are reportedly developing new handheld consoles, aiming to challenge the dominance of Nintendo's Switch and Valve's Steam Deck.
According to insider reports, Sony's new handheld device, codenamed internally, is said to be based on an AMD APU and is capable of natively running PlayStation 5 games. This revelation, attributed to the insider known as "Moore’s Law is Dead", suggests a significant leap in portable gaming technology.
Bloomberg first reported about Sony's new handheld, citing anonymous sources. The company has remained tight-lipped about the project, but it's clear that they are taking their time to bring the new device to market, much like Microsoft with its Xbox handheld.
Microsoft's head Phil Spencer has confirmed that his company is indeed working on an Xbox handheld, although it's still in a prototype phase and requires years of development before it can be released.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is set to release a backward-compatible sequel console to the Nintendo Switch next year, further intensifying the competition.
Sony and Microsoft are recognising that gamers are increasingly accepting of downgraded graphics for the convenience of portability. This shift in consumer preference could pave the way for a new era of portable gaming.
Interestingly, today's handheld PCs are fully gaming-capable machines, and modders have proven it's possible to scale a PS5 down with no loss in performance. However, relying on WiFi while traveling for game streaming, as offered by Sony's PlayStation Portal remote player, may not be feasible for everyone.
The news of new handheld consoles comes at a time when both Sony and Microsoft are doubling down on their respective gaming products. Sony's 2024 big hardware release was the PlayStation 5 Pro, a $700 console, while Microsoft is focusing on Xbox Game Pass as its premiere gaming product.
The portable gaming market has already been reinvigorated by the Steam Deck's release in 2022, and with Sony and Microsoft entering the fray, it's set to become even more exciting. Nintendo, Valve, and others have proven that the design for portable gaming devices has legs, and it seems that the future of portable gaming is looking bright.
Stay tuned for more updates as these new handheld consoles make their way to the market.
