As handheld gaming continues to increase in popularity, Sony is reportedly exploring a portable PlayStation 5 system you can take on the go.
Bloomberg reports that Sony has started development on a new handheld PS5 console that could compete with other portable systems like Nintendo's Switch (and the upcoming Switch 2) as well as Valve's Steam Deck. Although it's currently in development, the system is still years away from hitting the market, and there's even a chance Sony may scrap the thing entirely.
The report claims that the PlayStation Portal was originally planned to be a product similar to the Steam Deck, but it ultimately launched as a streaming peripheral for the PlayStation 5. However, a recent update for the PlayStation Portal introduced a cloud-streaming beta for PS Plus Premium members, removing the PS5 requirement to play games on the device.
A portable PS5 system wouldn't be the first handheld console from Sony. The console-maker has dabbled in the space with the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation Vita (PS Vita).
Released in 2004 in Japan and 2005 in North America, the PSP was designed to compete with the Nintendo DS. The console offered internet browsing, remote play with the PlayStation 3, and a wide assortment of critically acclaimed games. By the end of its 10-year lifetime, the console saw 1,370 games released and so over 80 million units.
The PlayStation Vita was released in Japan in 2011 and all other international territories in 2012. A successor to the PSP, the Vita came as mobile gaming was rising in popularity on smartphones and tablets. Although it had a successful initial launch, sales stalled which ultimately led to fewer games released on the console. Sony has not released exact sales figures for the Vita, although it is estimated to have sold around 15 to 16 million units.
Meanwhile, Sony's competitor launched the Nintendo Switch in 2017, revolutionizing the gaming industry with a hybrid console that you could play on the big screen or as a handheld. The Switch has proven to be an incredibly successful console with over 146 million units shipped worldwide. It's Nintendo's best-selling home console and the third-best-selling game console of all time, behind only the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.
Given the success of the Switch and the growing trend of mobile gaming, it's no surprise that Sony is looking to secure a piece of the mobile gaming space pie. They'll have to act quickly though as Nintendo is already gearing up to reveal the Nintendo Switch successor.