In the past few days, it was being reported that Sony is currently working on new hardware that isn’t the PlayStation 5 Pro or the new model compatible with an attachable disc drive. According to a new report, the Japanese company is actually reentering the handheld market with a new device.
As reported by Insider Gaming, Sony’s new handheld device is codenamed Q Lite, and it will be quite different from the PSP and the PSVita, as it will be a Remote Play focused device for the PlayStation 5 console. It apparently will not feature any cloud-streaming capability, which sounds like a missed opportunity.
The PlayStation Q-Lite device will feature adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60 FPS and will require an active internet connection at all times. As for the device’s design, the current prototypes look like PS5 controllers with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center. The device will also feature adaptive triggers as well as the usual array of handheld options like an audio input jack, speakers, and volume control buttons. It’s not yet clear when this device will release, but Insider Gaming believes it will launch after the new PS5 model compatible with the detachable disc drive but before the PS5 Pro.
While Insider Gaming proved to be extremely reliable in the past, we have to take today’s report with a grain of salt until an official announcement comes in. However, the PlayStation Q-Lite device sounds so disappointing that it is likely it will be real. With handhelds like the Steam Deck, one has to wonder what’s the point of a Remote Play only device. While Sony has always done great with its home consoles, the same couldn’t be said about its other gaming devices, like its previous handheld devices and, more recently, the PS VR2 headset, so it will be interesting to see how the Japanese company will try to market its new handheld.
