New Sony handheld console planned: Everything we know

For the first time since 2012, Sony is developing a legitimate handheld device for playing PlayStation games, Bloomberg reports.

For good reason, there isn’t much else to say about the device right now, as Bloomberg noted that it’s most likely years away from launch, if Sony decides to follow through with launching it at all. Sometimes products like this go through some portion of development only to get scrapped before seeing the light of day.

Bloomberg’s reporting indicated the machine would be able to natively play PS5 games on the go, which means it would have to be more powerful than the current crop of premium handhelds like the Steam Deck. That would also distinguish it from the recently released PlayStation Portal, which does allow you to stream PS5 games on the go, but only as long as you have a constant Wi-Fi connection.

Sony’s sudden interest in returning to the handheld market is interesting because it didn’t go well last time. The PSP made some waves in the mid-2000s, but the PlayStation Vita (launched in 2012) failed to generate any traction whatsoever, with Sony neglecting to release many big first-party games for it over its lifespan. However, since then, the Nintendo Switch has taken over the world, and Xbox is even reportedly working on a handheld.

What’s old is new again, apparently.