Report: Sony develops portable console for PS5 games
According to a media report, Sony is working on a mobile console to challenge Nintendo's Switch. A market launch is probably still a long way off.
(Image: dpa, -/kyodo/dpa)
Japanese electronics company Sony is working on a portable console that will allow PlayStation 5 games to be played on the go. This was reported at the weekend by the US news agency Bloomberg. The project is therefore at an early stage of development.
With the console, Sony wants to expand its reach and compete with Nintendo and Microsoft for the market for portable games, writes Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the project. The mobile console sector has been dominated by Nintendo's Switch for years. Xbox manufacturer Microsoft is also developing prototypes of mobile hardware. However, Sony's portable device is probably still years away from a market launch, according to the report. The company could still decide against bringing the mobile console to market.
According to Bloomberg, the development idea is based on the PlayStation Portal streaming console, which has been available since summer 2023. It looks like a mobile handheld, but is "only" an extension of the PS5. A system update enables cloud streaming of PS5 games for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers. The development of a mobile device that can play PS5 games directly would make Sony's software more accessible and attractive to a wider audience, according to the Bloomberg authors. There have been reports of a mobile console from Sony from time to time in the past.
Videos by heise
Mobile games are a market worth billions. It is dominated by smartphones. When it comes to games consoles, Nintendo is ahead with the Switch console. The Nintendo Switch was launched back in 2017. The console can be used on the go as well as on the TV at home. There has been speculation about a successor model for some time. In spring, manufacturer Nintendo commented on this for the first time. According to this, the company wants to announce the Switch successor before the end of this financial year. It is said that the successor model will also be able to play previous Switch titles. So now Sony is also re-entering the portable console market.
(akn)
