Sony has enjoyed being at the top of the console gaming market for years now, making commercially successful consoles such as the PS3, PS4, and their latest next-gen console, the PlayStation 5. With each of these gaming consoles, the company has always innovated the way people experience games. However, the multinational video game company hasn’t met the same reception for its earlier handhelds, the PSP and PS Vita. It seems Sony’s upcoming PlayStation handheld is going to change that.
Sony officially announced its much-anticipated PlayStation handheld in May after weeks of rumors running around in the tech space. Also known as “Project Q,” the PlayStation handheld is expected to launch in November this year. The release date is not exactly known at the moment, but Sony has confirmed it will come out “later this year.” The price is also being kept under wraps, but leakers believe the company will charge under $300 for the product. However, some outlets expect it to be priced at around $600.
What exactly is Project Q?
Sony’s forthcoming PS5 handheld is officially known only as “Project Q.” It is essentially a DualSense controller with an 8-inch LCD screen in the middle. It bears some resemblance to the Nintendo Switch’s form factor, but with the PS5’s signature design. The handheld will allow PS5 owners to stream their games to the device, but they won’t run natively on it, meaning you will need to install those games on your PS5 first. For games to run smoothly on the handheld, players will need a very strong Wi-Fi connection. Sony has yet to confirm whether you will be able to stream the games on the go, but it is believed you might be able to do so with Sony’s Remote Play technology.
Much about the handheld is still unknown, and some specs could change when the console is finally made available. The handheld was announced alongside another PS5 accessory, wireless earbuds. The PlayStation earbuds will support lossless audio on PS5 as well as PC.
It is important to note that while the upcoming handheld is not exactly a standalone device, Sony might end up making it useful offline too by adding lite games that can run offline. But for now, you will just have to imagine it as a companion to PS5 that will let you play games remotely around your home. The company is still testing more features on the handheld, which has made fans more hopeful for surprises.
Potential games PS5 handheld could support
Native backward compatibility with older PS games would be nice, as they are not very demanding of hardware. Being able to play classic fan favorite card games such as Persona 2: Eternal Punishment and Caesars Palace 2000 would definitely make for a great feature.
The ability to enjoy casino-based mafia games from the early PS era would simulate the experience of a legitimate online Canadian casino, with classic games like blackjack and poker, as seen in Caesars Palace. Similar to regular casino games, which offer desktop and mobile compatibility, the console’s ‘Remote Play’ option would let users stream to all devices, be it Mac, Apple, iOS, or Android.
This would add to the excitement of the casino vibe, streaming the entire experience from your console to your laptop, or even other consoles, using Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
The classic PS games would truly make it a unique handheld console worthy of competing with Steam Deck and Switch. The PS5 console lacks the browser feature (present in its predecessor, the PS4). If the handheld fills these small gaps, it will truly be complete.
Sony’s response to popular handhelds already in the market
With “Project Q,” Sony has re-entered the console handheld market. Industry staples like Nintendo’s Switch and the recent Steam Deck by Valve have already proven their worth. And Sony’s Remote Play technology can already be used on Windows, Macs, iOS, and Android devices to stream PS5 games. The Japanese tech juggernaut will have to make the upcoming handheld more than just a PS5 accessory for it to be a commercial success. After failed ventures in the handheld market in the past, the company will have to subvert expectations for “Project Q” to get a favorable outcome.
Sony’s success largely depends on the value the handheld will provide
Hopefully, Sony has learned from its past mistakes. Of all the things we mentioned above, for an average consumer, the gaming console will only be worth the price tag if it is unique. The Steam Deck and its variants cost anywhere between $399 and $649, and Valve’s handheld lives up to the hype. Microsoft has the Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service, and “Project Q” is a perfect way for Sony to launch its own cloud gaming service that will give players access to numerous games over the cloud.
The Japanese multinational conglomerate recently launched its first ever pro controller for PS5, DualSense Edge, which has met positive reception. Pro console controllers were already available on the market, and Sony launching its own with commercial success indicates a little hope for those waiting on the upcoming handheld.
Sony has promised to reveal more information regarding the handheld in the coming months. We will just have to wait and see how this venture turns out for the company.