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Sony Developing Handheld Console to Compete with Nintendo Switch. Sony Group Corp. is in early development of a portable console designed to play PlayStation 5 games on the go, aiming to rival the Nintendo Switch, Bloomberg reports. The project seeks to expand Sony’s reach in portable gaming, competing with Nintendo and potentially preempting mobile hardware from Microsoft, Xbox's parent company. The handheld device is likely years away from release, and Sony may still decide against bringing it to market, according to sources familiar with the plans. The console idea evolves from the PlayStation Portal, an 8-inch device launched in 2023 that streams PS5 games over the internet but lacks standalone gaming functionality. Sony initially planned for the PlayStation Portal to work like Valve's Steam Deck. A standalone portable PS5 console could widen the audience for Sony’s software. This move aligns with Sony’s broader strategy of expanding into mobile, PC gaming, and live-service titles, making its games accessible to a broader demographic. Nintendo’s Switch, offering portable and TV-compatible gaming, dominates the handheld market. Its successor, expected in 2025, will likely fuel a user upgrade cycle. With mobile gaming leading industry revenues, Sony’s new console aims to create a foothold in this competitive landscape dominated by smartphones. This marks a renewed effort in portable gaming by Sony and Microsoft, a decade after discontinuing earlier devices like the PS Vita and PlayStation Portable. While speculation builds around the handheld project, Sony has declined to provide any official comment on its potential new console.
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