Embark on a Gaming Odyssey: Sony’s Rumored Handheld Console
The gaming world is abuzz with the latest rumor: Sony is allegedly developing a new handheld console, similar to the PSP/PS Vita, that will support PS4 games at launch. This news comes on the heels of reports that Microsoft is also working on a gaming handheld console.
The PS Vita, a predecessor to the rumored handheld console
According to Russian journalist Anton Logvinov, who has a track record of accurately leaking news about Death Stranding and Horizon: Zero Dawn coming to PC, the new handheld console will be equipped with a customized AMD accelerated processing unit. It will also be backwards compatible with digital versions of PS4 games and run PS5 games through “PS5 Pro-like upgrade patches.”
Logvinov’s revelation is supported by well-known whistleblower Moores Law Is Dead (MLID), who has previously accurately leaked PS5 Pro specifications. MLID believes that the handheld console will be part of PlayStation’s next-generation hardware family, possibly launching alongside the PS6 or later.
The convenience of handheld gaming
During a recent earnings call, Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed that half of PlayStation’s monthly active players are still playing on old consoles. As of March 31, 2024, Sony has sold 59.2 million PS5 units, with 118 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network distributed between PS5 and old consoles (mainly PS4).
The PS4 accounts for the lion’s share of the old console’s 59 million active players, but the PS3 user base is also quite active. According to a presentation leaked by the previous Insomniac Games hack, PS3 still has a whopping 2.3 million active players as of early 2023.
The PS4, a predecessor to the rumored handheld console
While we have yet to confirm other details or the Malaysia release date for the device, the prospect of a new handheld console from Sony is certainly exciting. As we wait for more confirmation from Sony, one thing is clear: the gaming world is on the cusp of a new era in portable play.
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