In latest days, rumors of a brand new PlayStation handheld console have been swirling. At first, it seemed like Sony might be working on the PS Vita 2 — a follow-up to its beloved however poorly-supported handheld. Our hopes had been subsequently dashed by a report from Insider Gaming. In accordance with the report, the rumored PlayStation handheld (codenamed Q Lite) will want a PS5 to function and can play video games by way of Distant Play.
If that is true, then Sony is losing a major alternative to dominate the market.
What does the “PS Vita 2” seem like?
The report from Insider Gaming claims that early prototypes of the unannounced machine “look so much like a PlayStation 5 controller, however with a large 8-inch LCD touchscreen within the middle.” They characteristic quantity buttons, audio system, and an audio enter jack. The Q Lite additionally requires a continuing web connection for adaptive streaming as much as 1080p and 60FPS.
Given how ergonomic the DualSense controller has confirmed to be, I’m personally thrilled about this design. Sony has made among the most comfy handheld consoles of all time, and pairing that experience with the feel and appear of the DualSense ought to be a house run.
But it surely’s not the design that I’m apprehensive about. It’s the performance.
We’re presently dwelling within the golden age of transportable video video games. Nintendo paved the best way with the Change again in 2017, Valve flipped the business upside-down with the Steam Deck in 2022, and in between, numerous third-party producers have flooded the market with reasonably priced retro handhelds that may play any basic recreation you may throw at them.
For lower than $100, you may get a retro handheld that may play each PS1 recreation ever made. When you load your Steam Deck up with emulators and roms, it’s solely attainable to work your means via a lot of the PS2 and PS3 library from anyplace on the planet as effectively.
Then take into account how loopy everybody went for Nintendo’s Classic Edition consoles in 2016 and 2018. There’s a actual and rising marketplace for these basic video games, however the most effective that Sony can supply proper now’s a subscription to PlayStation Plus Premium. And by the best way, if you wish to use that service, you’ll must shell out $499 for a PS5 first.
Sony may launch its personal Steam Deck
I don’t need or want an always-online, streaming-only handheld. I already use Distant Play to stream my PS5 video games on my laptop computer, my pill, my telephone, and my Steam Deck with no concern. My DualSense controller connects to all these gadgets flawlessly. Why would I pay a whole lot for a devoted machine that does the identical factor?
Right here’s what I’d be hopelessly tempted to spend cash on: A devoted PlayStation handheld that performs all of my favourite PlayStation video games from consoles previous.
One of many PSP’s best belongings was a library of PSOne Classics. Not solely did PSP house owners have entry to the hand held’s big library of unique video games, however they may additionally obtain dozens of basic PS1 video games from the PlayStation Retailer, like Crash Bandicoot, Syphon Filter, Tekken 2, Wild Arms, Suikoden, Last Fantasy Techniques, and Tomb Raider.
Why not launch an official handheld machine with entry to the entire libraries of the PS1, PS2, and PS3? After all, licensing points will impression availability and there are some video games Sony may not need to contact, but when 1000’s of avid gamers are going to search out the video games on-line free of charge anyway, why not give them a handy strategy to pay for them?
Nintendo has successfully turned the Change into a conveyable NES, SNES, Sport Boy, Sport Boy Advance, and N64 with Nintendo Change On-line. Change house owners are paying $49.99 a yr for entry to a fairly restricted choice of retro video games. I’ve little doubt that PlayStation followers would do the identical with a retro-focused PlayStation handheld.
One apparent resolution: Mix the 2 concepts. The Q Lite most likely gained’t be highly effective sufficient to play PS5 video games natively on the go, however PS5 house owners may stream them with Distant Play. In the meantime, when the console isn’t on-line, Q Lite house owners may play dozens of PS1, PS2, and PS3 video games that they purchased from the PlayStation Retailer.
The Steam Deck has been an overwhelming success for Valve, giving PC avid gamers a comparatively reasonably priced and handy strategy to play much less demanding PC video games anyplace. I’ve a sense that Sony would have successful on its palms if it did the identical for PlayStation video games.
