Is a new handheld PlayStation Console coming soon?
Sony is allegedly working on a new handheld PlayStation gaming system, according to a recent report from Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming. And if you were hoping for a PlayStation Vita replacement…Well, you might be disappointed as the tech giant has entirely different plans.
According to Henderson, Sony’s “Q Lite” handheld is largely made to interact with the PlayStation 5’s Remote Play function and stream games from the console over the internet, rather than creating a portable console that supports local game play. Although Remote Play can be used outside the house, Insider Gaming clearly states that the handheld is not intended for cloud streaming, therefore it appears that the device will likely be marketed primarily to PS4 and PS5 owners.
Hardware-wise, the Q Lite will purportedly have an 8-inch LCD touchscreen made for 1080p gaming at 60 frames per second and adaptive triggers similar to those on the DualSense controller for the PS5. According to Henderson, the device might be unveiled between the reported PS5 with a removable disc drive in 2023 and the PS5 Pro, Sony’s other rumored PS5 hardware update, in late 2024. While gaming, it must always be connected to the internet.
If you only intend to stream games rather than play them locally, purchasing the entire $399 Steam Deck seems like overkill.
Interestingly, there aren’t many handheld devices that tick all the boxes when it comes to gameplay, hardware, user-experience, and price as one of the biggest factors. We can see streaming-focused rivals like the Logitech G Cloud and Razer Edge, which seem expensive for what they offer. If the Q Mini rumors are true, Sony will have the same pricing issues, and many would not consider buying one if it cost the same as the Steam Deck.
At this point, we know that Sony has the hardware know-how to create a fantastic gaming portable. This is the same business that produced the superb DualSense controller in addition to the great Vita and original PSP handhelds. The reported Q Lite certainly sounds like a gadget with interesting controls and serious gameplay that you can take anywhere with you.
