A recent leak suggests Sony is working on a new PlayStation handheld device, but instead of being a truly portable device like the PSP and PS Vita, it will require a PS5 and use Remote Play. Sony's PSP handheld was a successful device back in the day, but the PlayStation Vita failed to resonate with audiences. After the Vita's failure, Sony dedicated itself entirely to its home console and VR efforts, but there has been a growing demand for the company to return to the handheld gaming space.
The slow start for the 3DS and the sales failure of the Vita left many questioning whether consumers were ready to move on entirely from handheld gaming. However, the 3DS eventually bounced back in a big way, becoming one of the best-selling video game systems of all time. Nintendo has continued to dominate the handheld gaming market since with its home console/handheld hybrid the Nintendo Switch, while Valve has enjoyed quite a bit of success with the Steam Deck as well.
Other companies are starting to cash in on handheld gaming, with Asus making its own Steam Deck competitor. With all these companies throwing their hat in the handheld gaming ring, PlayStation fans have been calling on Sony to do the same by releasing a new version of the PSP or PS Vita. Now leaker Tom Henderson has revealed that Sony does have a new handheld in the works, codenamed Q Lite, but that it won't be a successor to the PSP and Vita. Instead, it will be a Remote Play device to be used in conjunction with PlayStation 5 consoles.
What is the Leaked PlayStation Handheld?
Henderson's report reveals more details about this alleged new PlayStation handheld, claiming that it has 1080p resolution, 60 frames per second, and requires a constant Internet connection. Henderson describes the handheld as looking similar to a PS5 DualSense controller, but with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen. Henderson believes that the handheld will launch before the eventual PS5 Pro, but after the new PS5 with a detachable disc drive that he previously leaked.
Of course, fans should take this information with a massive grain of salt as they should any leak. However, Henderson has a proven track record of accurately leaking gaming news, and other insiders have chimed in to back up these claims. But while some fans may be happy that a new PlayStation handheld device is coming, others may be disappointed that it won't be a proper handheld in the same vein as the PSP and Vita.
In this way, the leaked PlayStation handheld is like a Corrupt-a-Wish. Fans wished for a new PlayStation handheld, and they are apparently getting one, but it won't function like a traditional handheld and will instead be limited to remote play. Henderson's claim that the device will require a constant Internet connection may also upset some fans, as it restricts the device's uses that much further. Needless to say, anyone hoping for a PlayStation-branded handheld to compete against the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck are going to be sorely disappointed if these leaks are true.
It's difficult to imagine what the audience would really even be for this device. While it would be convenient to be able to play PS5 games on a handheld for when someone else may be using the TV or whatever, that kind of feature wasn't really a selling point for the PS Vita, which offered similar remote play capabilities but also had a lot more functionality, or Nintendo's Wii U. It seems that the device will need to have an especially low price if it's going to really stand a chance of taking off, especially as PlayStation 5 consumers have shown a general lack of interest in PS5 peripherals so far.
Take the PlayStation VR2 headset for example. Despite the fact that the original PlayStation VR is one of the most popular virtual reality headsets to date and that the PS VR2 released alongside an extensive roster of launch titles, PS5 gamers have been slow to adopt it. Reports indicate that PlayStation VR2 sales are not off to a great start, likely due to the headset's high $550 price point. So if this handheld does exist, it will need to be priced very competitively if it hopes to catch on.
PlayStation gamers will have to wait and see if there's any truth to these new PlayStation handheld leaks, but if the leaks are accurate, Sony will have an uphill battle ahead of it. There is a call for a new PlayStation handheld, but it seems most fans would be more interested in something like a PSP successor or a new PS Vita-style device. If the device is real, then more information should come to light within the next year or so.