The last true portable PlayStation was PS Vita, which Sony launched in late 2011. And no, PlayStation Portal doesn’t exactly count; it’s a streaming device, after all. All that may change if a Bloomberg report has got it right. Sony is reportedly in the early stages of developing a portable console that would let one play PlayStation 5 games on the move.
The device may improve Sony’s reach and rival Nintendo in the portable gaming market. It would also take on potential mobile hardware from Xbox maker Microsoft Corp, which is apparently working on prototypes in the category as well. If Sony’s device is indeed working on the device, it could be years away from launch and the company could still decide against bringing it to market.
The idea builds on the PlayStation Portal, an 8-inch handheld device Sony released in 2023 that allows users to play PS5 games by streaming them over the Internet.
Mobile gaming pulls in plenty of revenue each year and is dominated by smartphones. Nintendo’s Switch console has a massive following because of the versatility it offers of being playable both on the move and connected to a TV set. Further, its successor is expected to be released in 2025 and will retain compatibility with Nintendo’s rich library of existing Switch titles.
The PlayStation Portal has been successful; it has frequently been out of stock since it launched last November.
