PlayStation's Return to Handheld Consoles: What to Expect

Reviving Handheld Consoles

PLAYSTATION hasn’t released a dedicated handheld console in years, not since the 2012 launch of the PlayStation Vita. In 2023, it released a remote play device called the PlayStation Portal, which saw huge success, but required a PS5 in order to play.

Competition in the Handheld Market

According to a new report by Bloomberg, Sony is in the early stages of developing a truly portable console to compete with Nintendo, the current leader in the handheld console market. Xbox is also reportedly working on a portable console, but it's still years away from release.

The Future of PlayStation Handheld

PlayStation's portable console is likely years away from launch, and the company could still cancel plans to bring it to market. Sony has been exploring ways to make the PS5 library more accessible, including a bigger push for PC and live-service games.

Looking Back at PSP Go

PlayStation’s last portable console, the PSP Go, catered to a niche market in Japan with its variety of color options and library of RPGs and visual novels. With a new portable PlayStation console on the horizon, Sony will need to nail the marketing to succeed in the West.

For more insights into PlayStation, don't miss our predictions for The Game Awards.