Could Sony return to the handheld market?

The company has always seen PlayStation systems as part of a hardware ecosystem – but the business case for adding a new handheld to the family does not seem promising.

[Jin_Sakai]

Possible but with remote play or cloud streaming which I 100% don’t care about.

[gold_drake]

there have been both reports that it is, and that its not just a remote handheld.

so what it is kn the end ... no clue.

i think a remote only will be a mistake

[NovusTerminus]

I don't see them doing it, they are starting to support Steam now and with the Steam Deck, Ayaneo, OnexPlayer, and now the ROG Ally... Why should Sony invest in the market when it's already crowded by very strong players?

[blackblades]

That's what I'm saying, people over reacting to this. With them having a vr2 out and all as well. Theres a difference between the two, 1 is a full on handheld device with its own games etc which I doubt will happen and the other is a accessory that only does remote play. Basically a wiiu tablet or backbone. It'll be cheap probably the same cost as the ds edge and for certain people and not mainstream that I can see happen not a full handheld like vita but I doubt anything until officially announced.

[EvertonFC]

Exactly, I'm thinking a remote play device or maybe having another go at something like the Xperia play phone

[JackBNimble]

I think the bigger question is why would anyone trust Sony after their lack luster support for the vita?

[monkey602]

Exactly! I buy every platform Playstation release. I've not got a VR2 yet but I'm itching to get it.
However I'd pass on another handheld playstation because of how they left the Vita to starve

[ABizzel1]

Only if it's dedicated to playing their current library of games and does not require dedicated support from their first-party studios. Sony and Nintendo learned it doesn't benefit them with the PSVita and Wii U splitting their teams.

There are only 2 things they can do:

Remote Play
An ARM mobile device with a focus on the Cloud / Remote Play route, with a HUGE improvement to direct-to-device play on the scale of the Wii U and its tablet controller, making gameplay at home anywhere in the house ideal and almost without any lag. The device itself needs should be capable of mobile gaming on the go and directly support PS1, PS2, and some PSN emulation. On the go for PS3, PS4, and PS5 support it will have to rely on 5G and Wifi6, which will work for slower-paced games, but not ideal for anything competitive. The device cost $299 otherwise DoA.

High-End Tablet with PS mode / app for launching dedicated gaming
A tablet that runs AMD's APUs like the 6800u (680m), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage, basically making it technologically PS5 grade components (CPU, RAM, SSD), but with a GPU on par with a PS4. It could run PS1, PS2, and PS4 games natively, along with anything ported to the Switch 2 or down even lower from the Series S, and to an extent some PS5 games. PS3 and PS5 will primarily be the same situation as above, needing a HUGE improvement to direct-to-device play for Remote Play, and 5G / Wifi 6 Cloud gaming on the go. The issue with this option is cost as this is easily a $999 device, which is why it would be ideal to sell to mobile carriers to put on installment plans, and why it has to be an Android or Windows tablet that launches into PS mode, instead of being just a PS dedicated device. At this cost it has to be able to do more than play inferior versions of PS5 games.

[GoodGuy09]

Nah. Their teams are too focused on big games and live service on ps5/pc. There's no way they'll be able to support another and weaker platform...as CLEAR as how the vita generation was. People and sony themselves neglected the poor fella and the same will happen for a new handheld. Even Nintendo had trouble with the wii u and 3ds when devs and fans much preferred the 3ds.

A remote play and cloud handheld makes most sense for Sony right now. As long as it's priced right.

PC handhelds are completely fine since ya know....all/most PC games are available on these handhelds already lol. Emulators as well ofc.

[EvertonFC]

A remote play device is what I'm thinking this rumour is and nothing more, basically not a dedicated handheld.
Either that or maybe a new version of a Xperia play phone ? Or something similar.

[Godmars290]

Not without addressing the handheld market.

[z2g]

Probably would have been better than pursuing vr again

[northpaws]

Strongly disagree, handheld is just play the same games with weaker hardware, smaller screen and less comfortable controller.

While VR you are doing something completely different, gameplay that no flat screen can ever gives you.

[northpaws]

Right now I clamp my phone on a PS5 controller, then I can do both PS remote play and Gamepass cloud gaming. Cheaper setup that can do more, I don't see a point of streaming only handheld.

If dedicated handheld, I don't think there will be enough games.

[CrimsonWing69]

It’d have to be on the level of steam deck or switch, otherwise I just see it performing like the PSP and PS Vita.

[isarai]

With Steam Deck and Switch, there really isn't a good place for them in the handheld market.

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

They would have to invest billions into a new platform. Not really worth it.

[DOMination-]

Already confirmed they have hardware for q4 from multiple reliable sources. Some debate on whether it’s a cloud only handheld or remote play only device. Guess we’ll find out on June

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Why would they? They abandoned the Vita so quickly after it came out, people got burned on their purchases (not to mention the memory card debacle) and the current market has changed drastically since their last attempt.

Mobile phones, Switch, Steam Deck, and countless powerful portable PCs make it impossible outside of some silly streaming-only Android handheld.

[blackblades]

Its not a dedicated handheld that will have its own games etc... The sourced saying it's a remote play device or cloud gaming or whatever. It's basically a accessory which is actually iight if you think about it. If its cheap and can run remote play close to perfect. That's the better outcome not another handheld to support. Also it won't hurt no one really.

[preciousdeath]

A PS4P would be killer.