Sony allegedly working on gaming handheld that runs PS5 games

Rumor has it that Sony is making a comeback to the handheld gaming market. The Japanese tech company is currently developing a handheld device similar to the Nintendo Switch, and is able to run PlayStation 5 games on the go.

At least, that’s what inside sources tell Bloomberg.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, Sony’s portable gaming device would build on the idea of the PlayStation Portal, a handheld gaming accessory for the PS5 that was released in November 2023.

PlayStation Portal originally was supposed to be a standalone device, but instead was turned into a streaming device.

Unfortunately, Bloomberg’s sources don’t have details about the specs or when it will be on the market. They suggest it could take years before we get to see Sony’s newest gaming handheld.

Sony declined to comment on these rumors.

This wouldn’t be Sony’s first handheld gaming console. Back in December of 2004, Sony launched the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in Japan, and the following months in North America, Europe and other regions. It was designed to compete with the Nintendo DS and sold over 80 million units over its ten year lifespan.

In 2011 Sony launched the PSP’s successor, the PlayStation Vita. It introduced a 5” capacitive touchscreen, a rear touchpad, two analog joysticks, and front and shoulder buttons. The PS Vita couldn’t live up to the company’s expectations because of the popularity of mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets. That’s why Sony decided to end production in March 2019, selling only 10 to 15 million units in total.

If we look at today’s market, it’s easy to understand why Sony wants to develop another gaming handheld. That’s because of the Nintendo Switch’s unprecedented popularity. First introduced in 2017, it has sold roughly 146 million units worldwide.

Its successor, currently named the Nintendo Switch 2, is on its way and is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2025. Nintendo has confirmed the new console will be backward compatible, meaning gamers can play all the games they bought with the first generation.

Sony isn’t the only company entering the market for handheld gaming consoles. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, recently confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that Microsoft is currently developing a gaming console of its own and is working on several prototypes.