Sony has finally confirmed its work on a new handheld PlayStation device during the PlayStation Showcase livestream, but it might not be what gamers were expecting. The latest PlayStation Showcase featured a mix of triple-A blockbusters and smaller indie titles, with much of the post-show discussion being centered around the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and the newly-confirmed remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
With all of the major games in the current PlayStation pipeline, not many were expecting to see Sony’s newest handheld console, the existence of which was first leaked back in April. Sources claimed that this device, which was tentatively titled Q Lite, isn’t meant to compete with dedicated portable gaming platforms like the Steam Deck and the various competitors that have cropped up in its wake. Instead, it was said to serve as a PlayStation Remote Play device centered around streaming games.
The new PlayStation handheld device was finally revealed in full towards the end of thePlayStation Showcase 2023 event - and it seems that many of the rumors about it being stream-only have been confirmed. Jim Ryan himself unveiled the device, which now has the working title of “Project Q.” He stated that Project Q will indeed only allow players to stream games from their PlayStation 5 via Remote Play, and any games being played on it will need to be installed on their PS5. On the plus side, Project Q will feature all of the buttons on the PS5’s DualSense controller alongside an 8-inch HD display screen.
Project Q wasn’t the only new PlayStation hardware being shown off during today’s PlayStation Showcase livestream, as Jim Ryan also unveiled the first pair of official PlayStation-branded gaming earbuds. These earbuds can connect to PS5 consoles, PCs, or even smartphones using Bluetooth. Ryan stated that the earbuds will deliver lossless audio at low latency, resulting in high sound quality during gameplay.
Despite not achieving the commercial success of Nintendo’s legendary handheld offerings, Sony’s PlayStation Portable and Vita devices are still fondly remembered by gamers of the late 2000s. However, fans expecting a similar device in the newly-announced Project Q might be disappointed, as Jim Ryan has confirmed that it will only be a supporting device for the PlayStation 5 rather than a true standalone gaming system in its own right. Sony is promising more details on PlayStation’s new Project Q handheld in the months ahead.