While the Pro version of the PlayStation 5 may be the console on everyone’s minds, industry insiders are already looking further afield to the potential return of a Sony handheld. Before the (underrated) PlayStation Vita failed, Sony managed to carve out a decent niche in the handheld market with the PlayStation Portable. Fans of the surprisingly powerful device have long requested that PlayStation return to making smaller devices for on-the-go play, so if the latest leaks surrounding the next-gen console are to be believed, Vita fans are in for a good time.
Per Insider Gaming, reputable leaker KeplerL2, who has a track record of correctly predicting console hardware, reports that Sony currently has two system-on-a-chips (SoCs) in development for the PlayStation 6. KeplerL2 elaborates that they’re unsure if the plan is to emulate Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S strategy by releasing a standard and less powerful version of the same console or whether it’s more elaborate. The other major possibility is that Sony could release a home console and a handheld version given how the market has exploded in recent years thanks to hardware like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.
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Before getting too into the details, it’s important to remember that Sony potentially working on a new handheld PlayStation should be taken with a grain of salt. Until the company officially reveals such a product, which it likely won’t do for many years to come, there’s no actual proof that such a console is in development. Having said that, this isn’t the first round of rumors to claim that PlayStation and Xbox are both looking to move into the handheld market.
Plenty of insiders have claimed that Microsoft is similarly working on a handheld Xbox in a bid to compete with Nintendo. The supposed device would be significantly stronger than the ever-popular Switch and would come with Xbox Game Pass to provide players with an instant library of compatible titles. While many have disputed the rumors of such a machine, reports insist that it’s a long-term project that would likely take form alongside the Series X’s successor.
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As for PlayStation, the company recently disappointed many fans by releasing the PlayStation Portal, a device that looks similar to the Nintendo Switch but serves to only stream games from a PlayStation 5. The Portal’s limited functionality only strengthened the calls for a new PSP or PS Vita, especially since the latter could stream titles from a PlayStation 3 and 4 while also sporting a dedicated library of games. Players will just have to patiently wait for the next console generation to see what Sony’s cooking.
Source: Insider Gaming
