Move Over PlayStation Portal: Sony’s New Handheld Could Let You Play PS5 Games Anywhere

It seems like handheld gaming is making a strong comeback, and Sony’s latest move might just shake things up in a big way. Rumor has it that they’re developing a brand-new portable console that doesn’t rely on the cloud, which is exciting news for gaming enthusiasts everywhere.

Nintendo has always been the trendsetter in the world of handhelds, and history shows that where Nintendo goes, others eventually follow. Remember when Sony partnered with Nintendo for a console that never quite made it to reality? Well, Sony finally ventured into the handheld market with the PSP, following Nintendo’s sustained success. Unfortunately, the PSP’s successor, the PS Vita, didn’t fare so well, prompting Sony to step back until the launch of the PS Portal last year. The catch with the PS Portal was that it required a stable internet connection to play, as it was mainly cloud-based. But now, according to Bloomberg, Sony is reportedly crafting a handheld that you can use anywhere, allowing you to dive into your PS5 library on the go.

The report hints at Sony’s ambition to broaden its horizons and challenge Nintendo’s dominance in the portable gaming scene. This move seems strategic, as Microsoft is also rumored to be working on an Xbox handheld—something Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, has alluded to. Despite the buzz, don’t get your hopes up for a new gadget just yet; it’s probably a few years out, and there’s always a chance Sony might decide to keep it under wraps.

Bloomberg’s insights suggest that Sony initially envisioned the PS Portal as something akin to Valve’s Steam Deck—a standalone device that wouldn’t tether gamers to an internet connection. However, the PS Portal ultimately took the cloud-based path, and the reasons behind this decision remain unclear.

Whispers of a new Sony handheld have been circulating for a while, which makes sense given the massive success of the Nintendo Switch. If this upcoming device does indeed support PS5 titles, it seems likely it would mirror the hardware approach of the Steam Deck, focusing on digital downloads. Sony has clearly been leaning toward digital solutions—the PS5 Pro, for example, doesn’t include a disc drive—so it might be time to start embracing this new era of gaming.