New PlayStation Handheld Rumor Corroborated by Unexpected Source

Digital Foundry has corroborated a recent report about Sony working on another PlayStation handheld. This unexpected development further strengthens the possibility of the PlayStation Vita getting a proper successor—eventually.

Rumors of a new PlayStation handheld console being in the works have been circulating the industry for months now. The most notable report claiming this to be the case came from Bloomberg in late November 2024.

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During the latest episode of the DF Direct Weekly podcast, the folks at Digital Foundry gave more credence to this claim. “We actually heard about this handheld some months ago from a couple of sources,” DF’s John Linneman said around the 3:23 mark in the December 2 episode. Linneman acknowledged that Digital Foundry is “not in the business of leaking things,” but said he’s intrigued by the fact that this rumor has now reached the public. Reflecting on the specifics of Bloomberg’s claims about the new PlayStation handheld, Linneman remarked that the report suggests the mysterious device may be even further from release than he originally believed.

New PlayStation Handheld May Not Arrive During the PS5 Generation

Bloomberg last reported that the new PlayStation handheld console is presently in the early stages of development. For reference, Sony’s patent filing history indicates that its latest portable device, the PS Portal, was already in the works in 2017, at least six years before hitting the market. Between that and the fact that the PS6 is projected to arrive in 2028, Sony’s rumored portable gaming system might not debut during the PS5 generation. And though it might miss Sony’s current-gen home console, the ability to play PS5 games on the go was envisioned as its main selling point, as per Bloomberg’s late November 2024 report.

According to the same source, the mysterious handheld is based on the original concept for the PlayStation Portal, which was meant to be a standalone device akin to the Switch and Steam Deck rather than merely a PS5 streaming accessory. Such a product would mark Sony’s return to the handheld market, which it abandoned in March 2019, when it discontinued the PS Vita.

Sony isn’t the only major player in the industry that’s currently considering a pivot toward portable devices. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has recently confirmed that an Xbox handheld console is in the works, with the Redmond-based tech giant currently being in the process of prototyping it. Given this state of affairs, Microsoft’s handheld device is at least a few more years away from release, which could put it on course for a direct clash with whatever Sony is cooking up at the moment. Between this and the fact that the Switch 2 is all but confirmed to retain the hybrid form factor of its predecessor, the next generation of consoles will plausibly be the most portable one yet.

PlayStation Portal

While not exactly a PSP successor, the PlayStation Portal solves an age-old issue of having to share one TV in a household. This remote play device allows users to stream whatever is happening on their PlayStation 5’s directly to the large 8-inch 1080p LCD screen. What makes the PlayStation Portal unique is that it comes packed with all the advanced technology of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. One downside is that it doesn’t feature Bluetooth support for wireless audio, but it does work with the PlayStation Pulse earbuds and headset, while also sporting a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio. 

Playing Time

6-8 hours

Brand

PlayStation

Weight

529g

Headset Compatibility

3.5mm, PlayStation Link

Display

8-inch LCD

Output resolution

1080p

Release Date

November 15, 2023

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