PlayStation Handheld Leaks: What to Expect from Sony’s New Portable Console

Handheld gaming is more popular than ever, thanks to devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

These devices offer portability and power, making them ideal for gamers on the go. Although Xbox has already announced its own handheld, many thought Sony had given up on the idea after the PlayStation Vita.

However, recent reports suggest that a new PlayStation portable system is in development. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming PlayStation handheld.

Release Speculation

Rumors about a PlayStation handheld have been circulating for a while. The first credible report came from Bloomberg, which spoke to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

According to this report, Sony is in the “early stages” of developing the new handheld. However, the device is still far from being ready, and it may not even come to market. Some experts suggest that it could be years away, possibly not until 2028.

PlayStation Handheld News and Rumors

According to Bloomberg, the new PlayStation handheld will not be a streaming-only device. Instead, it will be capable of playing PlayStation 5 games natively.

This means that the handheld will likely be powerful enough to run PS5 titles, albeit at a reduced resolution and frame rate. This would make it a strong competitor in the handheld gaming market.

Tom Henderson, a well-known leaker, has also confirmed these details, adding that development of the handheld started after the release of the PlayStation Portal.

The success of the PlayStation Portal, which allows for remote play and cloud streaming, seems to have encouraged Sony to push forward with a true portable gaming system.

Will It Support Physical Media?

One of the big questions surrounding the new PlayStation handheld is whether it will support physical media.

The PlayStation Vita used cartridges, but it’s unlikely that the new device will have a disc drive due to the size and cost limitations.

Most likely, the handheld will be a digital-only system, allowing players to access games from their PSN accounts.

Price, Hardware, and Design

Pricing for the PlayStation handheld is still uncertain, but it’s expected to be quite expensive, especially if it can run PS5 games. If Sony can keep costs down, the handheld could be priced around $400, though this is just speculation. Factors like battery life, screen quality, and hardware will all affect the final price.

The design of the new PlayStation handheld will likely be based on the PlayStation Portal, which has a similar controller layout.

The device will likely feature haptic feedback, similar to the DualSense controller, for an immersive gaming experience.

The screen is expected to be around 8 inches, which is a decent size for portable gaming. An OLED screen would be ideal, though it could raise the price.

While we don’t know all the details yet, it’s clear that Sony is working on a new PlayStation handheld that could bring PS5 games to a portable device.

Whether it will be successful remains to be seen, but fans are excited about the possibility of having a PlayStation console in their hands.