Report: Sony Developing PS5 Portable Device; Years Away From Release

It’s been over a decade since we last saw Sony release a standalone PlayStation gaming handheld, but that might be changing at some point in the future, as a new report has come to light stating that Sony is working on a PS5 portable console.

The rumor comes from reputable business site Bloomberg, which cites sources that wish not to be named. According to the report, Sony is in the early stages of developing the portable console, and is likely years from release. The idea is said to build on the PlayStation Portal that was released last year. The handheld device, which requires a PS5 and a strong internet connection, was said to be intended originally as a standalone device like Valve’s Steam Deck before pivoting to what we have now.

The PS5 Portable Device Looks to Take on Nintendo and Counter Microsoft’s Portable Plans

Nintendo has been the king of portable gaming in the past few decades, and while Sony tried fighting it with solid portable gaming devices such as the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and the PlayStation Vita, these consoles weren’t enough to unseat the current king.

The report also mentions how the planned portable by Sony also aims to counter Microsoft’s planned portable, which Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed was in development and is “years away” from being released.

If Sony is indeed planning to release a new PlayStation portable device, it will once again face an uphill climb given Nintendo’s successor to the Switch will most likely once again feature portability even if it’s a home console, and with smartphones now getting more adept at playing full-fledged titles. That said, the market seems to be more accepting of portable gaming nowadays compared to years past, and with the cost for processors, screens, and more importantly, storage, now being more affordable than ever, the planned PS5 portable could avoid the pitfalls that befell its earlier counterparts.

While the PSP sold well when it was released back in 2005, its follow up, the PS Vita, failed to do as well, with most pundits pointing to its expensive proprietary storage cards as one of the main culprits for its failure.

Would you be interested in another PlayStation portable device?

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