Sony will launch a new generation of gaming consoles
Though only Nintendo’s Switch maintains handheld attributes among the current console triumvirate, the demand for portable gaming devices has remained relatively unchanged. For instance, x86 handhelds exemplified by the Steam Deck are selling well, and there is a market for ARM processor-based Android handhelds. According to Insider Gaming, it seems that Sony is contemplating rejoining the handheld development fray.
Insider Gaming asserts that Sony is developing a new handheld device, codenamed Q Lite. This apparatus cannot function independently; rather, it is designed to serve as a component of the PS5, relying on the console’s Remote Play feature for gaming. Additionally, it is not a cloud gaming handheld, distinguishing it from devices like those from Logitech G.
The early prototype of this device bears a resemblance to the current PS5 controller, the DualSense, but features an 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center. Given that the screens of both the Switch OLED and Steam Deck are 7 inches, Sony’s new device can be said to boast a sufficiently large display. Like the DualSense, this handheld will support various features such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Naturally, it also possesses standard handheld features such as volume controls and speakers.
The handheld is currently in the QA phase, expected to launch after the PS5 with a detachable disc drive, and prior to the release of the PS5 Pro. On a related note, according to Jeff Grubb, Sony is planning to announce the “second phase of the PS5,” which encompasses a series of hardware, including the aforementioned Q Lite, a PS5 with a removable disc drive, wireless headphones, and more, all slated for imminent release. Furthermore, the PS5 Pro is set to launch during the 2024 holiday season.
Finally, if the leak proves accurate, fans anticipating a successor to the PS Vita may be left disappointed. After all, most gamers desire a standalone Sony handheld, rather than another PS5 peripheral. In essence, the Q Lite seems less a successor to the PS Vita and more a spiritual continuation of the Wii U Gamepad.
