Report: Sony Developing Standalone Portable Gaming Console to Compete with Microsoft and Nintendo

Sony appears to be moving towards developing a portable gaming console to rival Nintendo and Microsoft’s offerings, as reported recently. This new device aims to deliver PlayStation 5 gaming experiences on the go, thereby stepping away from the PlayStation Portal’s model, which relies on a connection for remote play. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that this standalone gadget might still be some time from hitting the market, leaving room for potential revisions or even cancellation from Sony.

Microsoft, too, seems to be treading a similar path. CEO Phil Spencer mentioned that we’re still years from seeing a portable Xbox, paralleling Sony’s timeline. With Nintendo reigning supreme in the handheld domain, especially with another Switch iteration possibly dropping next year, the competition is heating up.

Sony, however, has remained tight-lipped, not sharing any specifics about its proposed plans.

The realm of portable gaming has seen tremendous growth in recent years, highlighted by Valve’s successful Steam Deck and its OLED upgrade. This has spurred on companies like Asus, Lenovo, Logitech, MSI, among others, to throw their hats into the ring. What both Sony and Microsoft bring to the table is a vast library of games and a strong pull to secure more titles, both exclusive and cross-platform, from indie developers to AAA studios.

Creating a device that can seamlessly work with the PlayStation 5’s existing games is no small feat. It requires specialized hardware and optimally tuned firmware. Given that this device is still in its early stages, Sony might re-evaluate its strategy or even decide to discontinue the endeavor altogether.

When looking back at Sony’s history in the portable gaming sector, they are no strangers, having launched the PlayStation Portable, PSP Vita, and PSP GO in the past. Initially, as reported by Bloomberg, the PlayStation Portal intended to be a standalone unit but ultimately was adapted to stream gameplay from a user’s PlayStation 5 through Wi-Fi using an 8-inch screen.

Despite past successes with the PSP, Sony now confronts a landscape crowded with competitors. The company also contends with cloud gaming services, such as Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Microsoft’s Xbox cloud gaming, that function without device limitations.

The shift towards portable gaming presents significant advantages, enabling Sony to connect with a broader audience that may not play on PCs, cloud platforms, or traditional consoles. If Sony opts out of launching a new handheld console, it risks being the only major player missing out on this vibrant market.