New PlayStation handheld in the works – Sony sets its sights on the Nintendo Switch's success

Sony seems to be shifting gears, as a new report claims that another PlayStation handheld system is in the works, hoped to be able to play PS5 games natively.

PlayStation is reportedly reentering the handheld market in a bid to swallow some of the Nintendo Switch's success, and no, it's not doubling back on the PS Portal either.

Has Sony only just remembered its golden age of PlayStation handhelds? Because it certainly seems that way. Of course, we can barely fault the company for going all-in on the PS5 and abandoning the PSP and PS Vita – after all, there are heaps of games on the console that make it unmissable this generation. However, it seems that all of a sudden, there’s been a change of heart, with whispers that an honest-to-goodness PlayStation handheld is in the works. And we’ll certainly take it if it makes its output better.

A major PS Portal upgrade has touched down for PS Plus members, introducing a cloud gaming beta for the device that no longer means that the Portal has to be used in tandem with an activated PS5 console. The list of games playable is limited to a collection of PS Plus Premium PS5 titles, but it’s a fantastic start in getting the-little-device-that-could off of store shelves and into the hands of players. That said, it's a poor substitute for a proper PlayStation handheld, and when the realisation dawned that it was a remote play device rather than a PS Vita successor, some of us were pretty disappointed.

But now, if leakers are to be trusted, it seems that the Sony has finally come to its senses, and is returning to its PlayStation handheld roots, as new reports claim that replicating the success of the Nintendo Switch (and the Steam Deck) is in its sight.

PlayStation comes for the Switch’s crown

Following the news that the PS Portal is taking a step away from being reliant on the PS5, it's been revealed by a new Bloomberg report that Sony is developing a new PlayStation handheld that’ll give players the chance to play PS5 games outside of their houses. A novel concept, I know. The device is said to be able to play PS5 games natively, removing the need for internet connection or a PS Plus Premium subscription to access cloud capabilities.

The PlayStation handheld is expected to be years out at this stage, so don't get too excited – but even so, it’ll be a big deal if Sony pulls it off. The handheld space has been dominated by Nintendo for the last (and most of the current) console generation, and to see Sony stepping back into the ring will be an interesting test of whether players will really choose Nintendo’s exclusives over PlayStation’s when they both occupy both the home console and handheld markets. That said, the Steam Deck doesn't seem to have impacted Switch sales, and Nintendo's strategy relies on keeping its own IP on its own hardware.

The real test, though, is seeing how PS5 games run on the impending PlayStation handheld, likely demanding more power than the Steam Deck – but it remains to be seen. All we have now are this report and the expected rumour mill to begin turning, but if all are to be believed, it looks like PlayStation is about to spread out massively.