Rumour: PS6 Handheld Device Can Be Docked Like Nintendo Switch 2

Copying Nintendo has never really worked for anyone. Best to just do your own thing.

Smart choice

Sony "We don't view Nintendo as a competitor"
Also Sony: "Let's chase and compete with anything Nintendo does thats successful."

The irony of a channel about Moore’s Law being dead discussing rumours of a PS6 when PS5 is barely being pushed.

I thought it was supposed to run ps4 and ps5 games in low power mode, so I would be less interested to play weaker versions of both games on what is essentially a ps5 series s.
If they can nail the cross save to instantly update the saves to main console that would be better for pick up and play. Unless the docking station boosts to a standard ps5 or ps5 pro but then it would be ridiculous money

Makes me think the handheld would be around the same price as Switch 2 and then the home console is more expensive than PS5 Pro.

Wait, if the handheld is meant to be a companion to the main PS6 unit then why would it need a dock? The dock is the PS6.

Thats actually pretty cool.. My PS5 is upstairs and I use my Portal when I'm downstairs. Being able to just dock it to any TV downstairs would be like having a second console down there.

Please be true. I'll take any ps handheld at this point. Psportal is good, but it doesn't always work and it can be frustrating

Even if it only plays ps5 games. I'll get one day 1. The opporunity to play my PS4/PS5 plus whatever back compat ps3 games they have by that point via ps+(or hopefully they figure out back compat for those by then and sell me them) on the go is mouth watering to me (no i dont want a portal streaming device) for years to come nearly all ps6 games will be playable on the ps5 anyway. Plus I'll buy a ps6 home console.

@Grumblevolcano we see how world is holding up by then

Can't wait to see what it looks like.

I'm not massively into hand held gaming but the beauty of my Switch (1&2) is that regardless of how I chose to play it , I only need the one device to play how I wish (admittedly probably 90% of the time in docked mode)

If I need to have a PS6 and then a separate device to play in hand held that's pretty much an instant turn off to me.

Those are just my personal views, maybe if I was more into hand held gaming I'd feel slightly differently.

I appreciate that the article suggests this device will work in the same way as a switch but it does also refer to it as a companion device suggesting that a PS6 is still required

WHY IS THERE A DOCK!?!?

I have my PC hooked up to my TV w/ an HDMI to HDMI cable. My kid uses a USB-C to HDMI cable on his laptop to my TV. I play Apple Arcade games on my TV wireless. Why do we need a dock? OK sure maybe wireless would have too much lag but USB-C is very versatile and 10' cables are cheap.😝

@rjejr I mean a dock is really just a USB/HDMI, or whatever, with a middleman in the shape of a box. The box can have some utility though. Extra ports(primarily why Laptop docks exist), maybe some increased processing power etc.

So basically I think next gen might look like this.

PS6 lite - weaker specs and handheld (£500), dock sold separately (£100)
PS6 - standard console (£650)
PS6 Pro - upgraded console (£800)

@rjejr Same reason theres a dock for the Switch 1 and 2, extra power and more ports.

Nintendo: Look what they need to mimic a fraction of my power.

Also the majority of PC handhelds can be docked, so Playstation doing the same is no slight towards Nintnedo, it's just industry standard these days for any type of handheld gaming device.

No thanks stick to the main console market sony do what your best at I woudnt buy it anyway the switch 2 is different it's the only console from Nintendo

Jeez if they had more emulated games from the previous gens that would be sweet on one of these but even then, i feel like another console is not needed in my household anytime soon so having one of these wouldn't be that bad.

Edit: if they release it with an OLED screen id consider getting one even more over a standard switch 2 (currently)

@Boxmonkey Sony has made bank by copying and doubling Nintendo.

SNES -> 2 Triggers — PSOne -> 4 Triggers Baby!
N64 -> Analog Stick — PSOne -> Dual Analog, Baby!
N64 ->Rumble Pack — PSOne -> Dual Shock, Baby!
GameCube -> Long pull Trigger — PS2 --> All buttons pressure sensitive, Baby! (Not sure but I think PS2 actually launched before the GameCube...)
NDS -> 2 Screens, 1 with touch — PSVita 1 screen but 2 Touch capable things, Baby! (Ok, this isn't quite double...)

Now Switch 1 and 2 -> dockable and portable — PS6 compatible handheld -> dockable on 2 outputs at the same time and comes with a 2nd handheld device for twice the portabilty, BABY!!!

GO SONY!

LOL

I really hope PS6 will still have proper physical games release.

for playing what? more GaaS?

anyone with any sense would already know this haha. the handheld would be dead in the water if it didn't have video output. really didn't need an article for this nugget of obvious information that everyone already knows

@nessisonett maybe it is not pushed for you. But Sony already stated that PS5 is on end cycle as it crossed half way of its lifetime and main focus is PS6.
Games will be playable on PS5/PS6 for long time, so there is no need to somehow push PS5 specifically. It sells good. Lot of games are coming ( non 1st party) and life is good, not doom and gloom as you are trying to make

Why do all these companies assume we all want to be "on the go" lol. Some of us just like playing "in the hoose" on the big telly as it should be 😀👍

@LuDaurre yes, if we ignore hundreds of games, absolutely. Only GaaS.

@Jrs1 not for everyone, obviously, plus Nintendo has been so successful with the Switch that there is clearly a large enough audience for it.

Why can't there be more originality? It's more of the same honestly

I think graphics upgrade are kind of over, more games in 60 fps and higher resolutions is the only upgrade I feels in this new gen. There's no uncharted 4 or red dead redemption 2 like wonders like in ps4, where you can clearly tell there's no way previous console (ps3) can do those games.

Focusing on handheld is smart, especially if the device can stream ps6 games and play ps5 AAA games natively (with lowered graphics), I hope sony name it psp 2

@Jrs1 You mean you don’t want to take your dog to a park, and proceed to ignore them while you play on your handheld??

I’m the same way, I only play my handhelds at home.

@naruball Innovators don't imitate plus Sony doesn't have the greatest track record with handhelds.

@LazyDaisy Hahah no, av no got a dog anyway plus im in Scotland if i take a handheld ootside i'd get electrocuted with the rain 😀

@Jrs1 many of those who are considered "innovators" didn't actually innovate. They made something that already existed much more popular.

@WhoderMan don’t forget the wavebird and wireless controllers…

I’d love a hybrid. I do most of my gaming with the TV but being able to play handheld suits me better today than it did 5 years ago. It would help squeeze extra game time in nowadays

Looks cool, but I'm not a huge fan of portable stuff. Apparently Sony is doing 2 SKUs right from the beginning, like Microsoft did with Xbox Series X and S, which is... weird, but i guess i would pick up the most powerful one, i just hope they don't bring a ***** Pro 4 years later.

Having said that, i still want to see what Microsoft will be doing with their next hardware. If they bring PC storefront to their machine and if i can use my Steam account there...then it's bye bye Sony, i guess (if they keep porting their games to PC and if they keep raising the prices of their games in Brazil)

Well yeah. Practically all handhelds released nowadays can be docked. Not allowing for it to be docked would be stupid. Even a phone can be "docked".

@nessisonett The PS5 is being pushed plenty due to the target resolutions. If it had plenty of overhead its significant library of PS4 games should all run at very high frame rates with a high pixel count. The PS5's approved system on chip that launched to us in 2020 was okay for a two+ year old design by the time it launched. Not saying its not a capable machine, we have horizon and death stranding 2 to show for it. There just isn't going to be some crazy amount of extra power that isn't being used that people are thinking. A pro wouldn't have been launched if that was the case.

That's cool if true.sounds interesting.word up son

And microsoft is working on two system on chips for whatever the next Xbox will be assuming MS doesn't lease out the rights to other manufacturers to make an Xbox. It will be interesting next generation. As long as Sony launches a PS6 which can be had with a real blu-ray disc drive, I will support the traditional console.

Maybe not as much as a Nintendo competitor as a Steamdeck competitor as well. Outside of the US/Euro, handheld gaming is massive in the Asian market. Sony is dumb not to grab a piece of that. You have this PSN ecosystem that they have been steadily building since PS4, which they are still making a lot of money on, and now you add a handheld to it that moves you into Generation 3 of it. No brainer.

If they do this portable PS6 like a Series S and make it weaker and cheaper than a dedicated TV PS6, I think it's a good move. Otherwise, though...I can't see Sony doing well with a weaker system. Nintendo can go with weaker and cheaper hardware because their first party games are enough to drive sales, but Sony doesn't have that advantage especially with their games starting to come to PC. If your options are a weak console; a weak console that plays Mario, Smash, and Zelda; and a powerful console, I can't see anyone going for the first option.

@REALAIS that is nessisonett thing

@rjejr if it’s anything like the switch the dock will not be mandatory. You can just take the wire out the switch dock and put it in the switch directly.

Sony "We don't Nintendo as competition"

Copies Wii remote with Playstation Move
Copies Nintendo with a dock station

@Nakatomi_Uk "Copies Wii remote with Playstation Move"

Interesting enough if you look into the history of that, Richard Marks, who developed the Move controllers and the EyeToy, demoed a version of that idea with the PS2, but said the PS2 didn't have enough power for it. https://youtu.be/_PtoxKDcCXc?si=vq5lAsdMNiJ07lWd

Dr Richard Marks Demoing Enhanced Reality with The EyeToy

Seems like this will be a key part of Sony's strategy for Japan. They won't dethrone Nintendo, but they can certainly claw back some of the ground they lost in the last decade.

@Lowdefal Yeah even other handhelds like Steam Deck are dockable.

Fair, but Pocket PCs of the 2000s had docks and cables. PC hook up to Gizmondo, PSP, Tapwave Zodiac.

Plenty of other examples.

The new handheld will be digital (sure expected at this point) but even still the library will be boring/PS4/5 playing on the go, and I hate those libraries they are so boring.

PSP/DS have better libraries then Switch or any other consoles.

I have been able to cast my phone to a TV for years wifi or cabled. But no way gaming only mentality. Oh people skip all other forms of it till Switch because why wouldn't they do their research.

I do not care about TV hook up of a handheld. Is it nice yes, but EVERY DEVICE at some point has or can continue to do it, it's just a small audience does. Because most people casual/hardcore unless a tech enthusiast is an idiot and never uses the feature unless shoved directly into their face. Or we wait 10+ years like Portal to 'really do remote play' even though it's worse then the Vita app in resolution targetting that doesn't exist on Portal and even then Vita had way more uses for dual screen, smartphone did and still do for PS4 Playlink (not back compat on PS5) and many games still continue it for dancing, singing, a Tactics RPG. Or bad dual screen phone use less fun than the Dreamcast, DS, GBA/GameCube, PSP/Vita or Wii U did better even for their limits or sometimes gimmicky but fun approaches.

The PSP HAD CABLES TO CONNECT TO YOUR TV. The Sega Nomad had this. The Neo Geo X had this.

PS TV was a way to do it then a cable that's proprietary or otherwise to the Vita handheld (unless cable was for dev use no idea).

Almost like having a Super Gameboy/Gameboy Player or Wideboy 64 too.... hmmmmmm.

I have hooked up my 2015 netbook to my TV with Micro or Mini HDMI, ti's an annoying cable but it works. I have a 2000s Netbook with VGA to the TV.

The Switch 1 to me is the most boring Nintendo/any handheld. Joycons are cool, IR barely used in interesting ways other than Labo or RE VR like reloading, otherwise no Wii use at all and flipping the controller around. It's a tablet so generic that besides joycon splitting or not solo accounts as Vita it was a pain to swap accounts, the Switch is so boring. Library is 'decent' but to me is fair for Vita ports of Asian English release in English now and odd Indies. 1st party is half and half.

PSP/Vita had better libraries. DS had a better library then 3DS/Switch.

I don't care about a dock/cables to the TV.

It is a nice feature, but everything Laptop, Tablet (literally adaptors for it for years)

@Gravity_Bear Agreed, Gyration got turned away by Sony and Microsoft even if some staff liked the idea, Microsoft had to appologise for their meeting rudeness from those that didn't, so like Sega did with Silicon Graphics giving the N64 it's hardware over the Saturn. Some companies give the others an opportunity.

But then again like Portal being a Dualsense with the Vita remote play app reworked and no resolution targeting that app had that I think made it better (connection wise not as much but good for the time and wasn't local like Wii U Gamepad was and more like Xbox remote play/Steam Link was even if Sony had been working on it with PSP, etc. for years anyway). Who actually looks around. Who knows what PS4 Playlink games are? You can't even use them without the apps from Android archive sources and low firmware even, yet people know PSVR1, Singstar or Eye Toy/Move more.

Sony had their Sixaxis, they had Eye Toy and a webcam for PC with minigames came out in the 90s before Eye Toy did year later. Then Kinect did it's approach/additional sensors and such.

People that do their research I respect, people that don't are a waste of time and can't use a web search for something that takes 2 seconds to find of articles/videos and say nonsense. Same with researching every console/handheld on wikipedia or videos historians (particular angles aside) or collectors literally showcase to people enough how they work.

I mean what we going to say oh Xavix Port copied the Wii when it's literally ex Nintendo staff and came first. XD

Companies make all sorts of hardware things their own way and have their own ideas for it. Wii U, Vita/PSP Remote Play, dual screens, companion apps. Xbox Smartglass, PS4 Playlink party games, all the same thing, 3 different ways, all 3 companies of 2012/2013 yet no one mentions that at all.

Many third party games had the apps on smartphones, Deux Ex does the Wii U/Vita on PS3 (I think it was) thing even. But only certain people know that.

Cables to the TV/wifi of smarphones/tablets, PSP, Nomad, Pocket PCs (2000s Steam Deck/GPD and more devices but bulky and not for gaming).

People ignore the PC/laptop/phone, etc. space but even in gaming they still barely do their research. XD

It's just sad.

@Jireland92 Why else would the Wii U Gamepad need a charging dock?

Why else wouldn't the iPad/any Android Tablet have a wifi casting or adaptor to cable connect to the TV. Why else would I have a HDMI cable for my laptop/Windows tablet? Processing it through a cable has it's benefits sometimes.

Docks can help with power connectors or just data transfer and building it into the dock to look more appealing or add addition to them then the TV or portable itself, it's a more fair way to put it. You could do the same with the PSVR2 motion controllers, I think it looks dumb and should be designed differently but I wouldn't say the dock was worthless for them.

Also it's something else for Sony to sell and the processing of images or data is more fair to build into a dock (kind of like when they do or don't put the power brick into a console).

It's just does. Sometimes it's better for data transfer than wifi. I mean think about it, why would PSVR2 be cabled? But people don't want a cable yet want Meta headset levels of graphics/hardware. It has to go somewhere. The PC isn't going to be the same experience with a Meta headset cabled as it is power level as portable headset is it? That's why there is the difference there.

Portal was just a casting device, like Playlink PS4 smartphone apps as controllers, to Vita remote play, to PSP remote play. It's the same idea reworked for 15 years ever since PSP 2000.

Why not a dock for more processing images, or power transfer tech built in? I think it's a great idea.

I mean if we talk Vita remote play and Wii U Gamepad, Gamepad is local and not related to the wifi chip for the eshop/other networking services. But Vita/Xbox One/360 (Smartglass or other companion game apps of 2012/2013 because I do my research on this stuff) or later the Xbox app for Remote Play and Steam Link all offer an over wifi approach.

Very different experiences, yet the Wii U local approach no one uses. It's limited but i prefer it. The others have more interference but can go further then the chip limits of the local approach.

@Nakatomi_Uk Sony and Microsoft turned Gyration down, Nintendo took them up on the offer. Do research. It takes 2 seconds to do so.

@SuntannedDuck2 lol yes I know about the Nomad and the PSP technically having video out (the PSP Go had a dock). I don't know what you're talking about with Microsoft though. They've never even had a handheld. Regardless it feels disingenous to pretend like this new Sony handheld isn't happening in response to the Switch. Its like saying the PS Move wasn't a response to the Wii because the Dreamcast had the fishing rod and marca controllers. Come on.

@rjejr My guess is how they want to package it/something else to sell.

Sure PCs/laptop/tablet, etc. can but a lot of processing is still done to make that happen. If the cable can't and the device or TV can't. Where is it going, the dock or cable. That's why.

Look at the PSP 2000 cable, Sega Nomad, Wii U/Vita to PS3/4 and more options of the apps, wifi, local between Wii U/Gamepad, Steam Link, Xbox One/360 and more. They have to have the software or the hardware to allow enough for processing to another source if it's single same screen or dual screen.

Look at Projectors, sure comparable to monitors but your still using Windows + P key or otherwise modes to allow it to work from say a Laptop to a Projector.

Teachers would do that with their laptops to a projector in school all the time then an overhead projector.

@HammerKirby3 I summarised a bit but will add what I meant here.

Microsoft Smartglass is a phone app, like any other companion app third parties used in 2012/2013 for PS3/360 or PS4/Xbox One, yet people remember the Wii U......, it's a quick web search to look up I said the name of it.

Remember Onlive? That Sony bought up for cloud use for PS Now? They had a viewer app.

Remember Playlink PS4 smartphone controller use apps for party games. I can go on but won't, plenty of examples over the years, of PC space or gaming space.

So no they don't have a handheld.

Well Gyration literally got turned down by Sony, they had Sixaxis. Do the research it's right out there.

Pocket PCs/any other laptops/netbooks, plenty of gaming or PC space examples. Nintendo just did an idea they had and continued what others have done for years. Switch doing it isn't bad, but like it's not new unless people have been living under a rock/modern only land.

I look up history and devices all the time in collector/history spaces. However they present their knowledge/bias accurately or not.

@kmtrain83 I wonder too.

I thought with Vita I mean, the PSP had restrictive memory cards too but not great security while Vita did.

Handheld owners can be a different audience.

Western third parties wanted phones, messed up but still gave them the focus and worked it out over time over the 3DS/Vita with eh ports sometimes or odd releases but not as much. That or family friendly releases if that.

I mean the Indie/Japanese support was pretty good, but I mean Dreamcast and Vita/Wii U still got support, just not the support 'many want' so to me I ignore that. The disk and console production to eshop eras are clear.

Hardcore audiences can ignroe things, but the real fans get these devices.

I am on the fence as I don't like modern gaming 1st or 3rd parties really at all and go Indie (the few I enjoy and hate the rest as much as AAA and go retro otherwise). So to me a device like this is a hard sell but I love my Vita, PSP, DS, 3DS is ok and Switch is also ok for it's purposes.

@naruball If the handheld ends up like the Panasonic Jungle the 'MMO console' that removed itself before or around the time of 3DS/Vita then yeah. Can't wait for the marketing of this to be a Games as a service handheld.

Shivers.

@naruball agreed, as proven many times over the years in many industries, marketing or what people see first, versus those that go oh they tried this, they did it better or years later when had the tech, budget, etc. or the others with a marketing angle.

To me even narrowing down from Atari/Coleco/Intellvision to NES horse betting/banking/etc., to SNES Satelliview/Sega Channel or Mega Modem, to Randnet on N64 and the Sega Saturn one of Sega Channel I think, to Dreamcast online to PS2 online/Xbox Live. It's a roller coaster of who did what first there whether radio approach or the broadband/dial up approach onwards to now.

Or others doing something around the same time 3 ways and people still see the 1 they do and ignore the rest or that era entirely. Cough 2012/2013 Wii U, Vita, Xbox 360/One Smartglass/3rd party smartphone companion apps for games.

I've heard the iPhone, iPad or iPod I forget which, Apple bought the name off another company. However true that is I need to look into again to be sure. But not surprised when names get used and people want something to suit what they have of branding/marketing potential.

Let alone many games over the years and the Starfox/Lylat Wars side of things as an example. Or blue Dreamcast logo and Tivola orange spiral.

I am all for a handheld. I play almost exclusively on my Switch and Retroid, as the latter can stream PS4 and 5. I get that a lot of people prefer the big home theater experience, I just zone out of reality better w a handheld and some decent headphones.
I will usually try a game on my TV first just to get that experience when it's a big AAA game. It's like back in the day I'd always play SP before trying split-screen so I could see the game's actual fidelity first.

If it was the case, Sony would be positioning both PS6 products competing with each other.
Given they both had different specs, it may not even be accurate to be calling both a ps6 as the portable was more a portable ps5.
So... this will just be what the psp and vita were but with backwards compatibility with ps4 and ps5.
If this device is to run ps6 games, the next generation will be more hamstrung than this one.

It would be cool if the handheld was the console that had the ability to be connected to a dock and played on the TV keep it digital to keep price down but then create different docks that also have a disk drive so that gives people the best of both worlds also keeping things affordable. They could then create a pro version of the dock rather them releasing a new system while still keeping things decently priced. I think an approach like that wouldn't be the worst idea.

@HammerKirby3 I mean if they're finally getting back into the handheld market seriously after all this time, then of course. Even if it had NO connectivity, having a dock in this day and age would 100% be ideal to compete. Nintendo themselves said they only want your time and not competition, but skipped over the convenient fact that -they- barely had anyone to compete with when it came to the handheld side of the market back then. Not only is it unavoidable now, but it's pretty much going to be 2 v 1 because they went hybrid and there's still the PS6 too.

Sony also expands on any form of imitation so I'm curious to see where they take this. It's rarely ever 1:1 without some twist and most importantly... the basics.

I still find it weird that the PSP could be connected to a TV (PSP 2000 onwards via a component cable) but the Vita didn't feature a video out port.

@SuntannedDuck2 yup. Also, eyetoy comes to mind. It wasn’t particularly successful, but it came before wii/kinect/move. And perhaps eyetoy took inspiration from something else. To me, it doesn’t matter. As long as the end result is good or even better than the original, I’m all for it.

@WhoderMan haha. Was waiting for this comment. Don’t forget wireless controllers (following the wave bird) , those weird PS4 motion sticks following the Wii. Even the PS portal relates heavy to the WiiU . Ppl need reminding Sony have copied Nintendo ALOT. And they have the audacity to say the Switch2 is not innovative lol Guess they can’t find anything to ‘borrow’ this time round.

@gamma64

I knew there were things that I was forgetting from the PS3 era! Nintendo had the Wii with their fancy motion control using 3 axes. Somehow, Sony upped it to SixAxis Motion Control, lol!

And then the Move controllers which had joysticks on them and were actually pretty good (I liked them at least).

Not for me. I dock the Switch right now

I like the solid predictable power of a console. I am sick of the PC micro-upgrade cycle

Guessing Sony is looking to diversify their PS6 options with territories that are more noted for their portable gaming probably having more of the hybrid model vs markets that do well with the traditional console.
Whilst it doesn't help the perception of how much next gen hardware is actually pushed with "new" games, they're unlikely to ignore the PS5 base of 80+million in the shorter term much as the PS4 ended up with more cross gen than initially expected.

Innovation by copying is a Sony thing

So Nintendo have a hybrid version and portable-only version, and Sony will have a hybrid version and a console-only version?

@Robocod I think the cross gen period will be at least 4 years. Especially if the portable version of the PS6 is similar to a PS5 in power.

Sony loves copying Nintendo, as do most of their competitors, so this wouldn't be surprising at all. 😆

I prefer handheld gaming but I'm content with my Switch (2). I'd be interested if true, though, and might be persuaded to get one if the price is right.

Surprise Surprise, Sony trying to cash in on Nintendo's success by copying, but when have they not.

@SuntannedDuck2 I'm guessing technology has improved a little since tye Sega Nomad. Just a guess though.😂

@rjejr Of course it has yes. Still cable or dock to do things, same practical use, just different extent with HDMI, USB C, etc.. and the benefits that come with them.

Like when people compare NES/Master System 3D, still same tech, but just years later a bit more improved.

@Axelay71 Plenty of examples, plenty of times companies try it there own ways. Look at history, people have documented it all. It's all what a person sees first, or a person intelligent enough to research it, versus those that don't. Not the companies marketing it as first, but most customers are lazy anyway because they rely on what is newest attempted not years ago because why bother doing that research.

@Fyz306903 Yeah I do find their headlight confusing as it's not clear.

My guess is it will be a dock and not cabled like Nomad/PSP were. Who knows for wireless connected to a TV or not like phone casting.

Or it has PS5 like Portal casting as well, I would assume.

@Glorioso Compared to Sony doing things first, being too ahead of their time too. Same with other Microsoft PC technologies, sometimes the tech isn't there, marketing angle, price or customers don't look around them at all.

History shows firsts too early, those that market it better same time or years later. It happens.

@Robocod I think so too. I think they will like Vita with Indies, or PSVR2.... with Indies/those interested. Will offer it as an option.

I mean Indies laughed at the Portal as they were going oh a handheld, oh a casting device.... like PSP/Vita had remote play for years and now they are just simplifiying it, but it's just Portal/Xbox/Steam Link, not Wii U dual screen or local or any other things that offered that makes it different the average idiot doesn't understand.

Sony won't support it. They don't Portal and let it be for it's basic casting purpose, no dual screen, android support, anything, just a casting device. Like your phone/other devices but Dualsense on the side.

I assume the same will apply here, an option for on the go, or a a Portal 2 for PS6 (I hope resolution targeting, even Vita had that and Portal does not), or a handheld for Indies/those wanting to work around a Steam Deck/others. It could be a number of things really.

@Jrs1 Ever since PSP remote play or Pocket PCs, or PDAs, or cellphones and more I have wondered too. To me from a tech stand point it's cool, from a social stand point why would I care, from a 'you want to commit as much to our ecosystem and play games all the time right, like your smartphone right, like reading lots of books right, watching tons of movies right'.

I think it's just a stupid business angle companies want us all to do and well with how much people engage with their phones I can see why, regardless of what they use it for it's still using a device heavily. Sigh.

@naruball Same here, we will have to wait on the results, everyone is either coming up with an idea randomly, or putting their own spin on it, in any form of media, it's just who gets to it first, markets it well, and customers with their heads in the clouds till it's a company angle they like it. While historians and collectors laugh at all the idiots.

@SuntannedDuck2 but if this is meant to be a Switch competitor then it misses the point. The Switch needs the dock because the handheld is the console. The dock is how you can play it on the TV. If this handheld is meant to be a companion to the PS6 then the dock is completely pointless. You already have the console to play on the TV, you don’t need it for the handheld.

@SuntannedDuck2 Well if it's improved enough then we shouldn't need a dock, just wireless. Maybe a dongle or brick, but wireless should be the way to go in 2027 or 2028.

Not talking about dual screen, that's an entirely different software issue, but mirrored.

But if lag really is still an issue in 2027 then OK, bundle a 10' usb-c to HDMI wire in the box.

Let’s be honest now. How well did Sony do their portable devices: PSP was the only one good, Vita support was poor, memory cards expensive, and Sony killed it. How well are they doing with VR/VR2? Similar approach, poor support.

Won’t pay them for PS6 Portable knowing they will kill it soon or later. Not to mention their exclusive games delivery is incredibly lacking and bad since few years. Sorry, for hybrid or portable consoles Nintendo won and keeps the crown.

Some kind of portability has to be expected and will be seen on Microsoft side as well.This is very common for pc portables and given how much the Switch was more a sequel to the PSP/Vita than the 3DS or the sheer amount of times Nintendo got away with murder in the “stealing ideas” department, the hot takes from Nintendo fans seem a little disingenuous.

@Leinad7 PSP was good but at the same time, also had memory cards used by only Sony cameras, PSP, or other devices compared to Vita only, let's be real there. Expensive then too pretty sure.

For those wanting 1st/3rd party high budget support sure. To me the 1st party teams I don't think can handle it. I think it's a PS6 Portal, or a 'like Vita' Indies handheld. 3rd parties won't bother making one for Switch 2/PS6 handheld would they? That's my speculation though. I agree it's needs big budget games, but it would be surprising if they go that far with it. Remote play has been around since PSP and kept around each console/handheld/smartphone app of the Vita one since after all. So cloud or otherwise makes sense too.

Meta headsets are the only devices besides phones that get unique versions, everything else is 'parity'. So it will be questionable. Besides PC handheld spec scaling if devs choose to do so.

Vita support was 3rd party western studios giving up to go mobile very early on, they want money and give us quickly because they don't care, Sony relied on them, they said nope, Japanese IPs they didn't bother marketing as much as they do nowadays, in Japan maybe in the west they didn't do Indie or Japanese 3rd party marketing at all, nor family game western 3rd party marketing, or not that I can 'easily' find, may be out there just hard to sometimes define it, 3rd parties messed up on mobile early on, but still would rather risk mobile learning ecosystems and 'large install bases' then build one up because they are lazy, back then (gotten better or worse but fit in with the ecosystem now) and went eh give the Vita/3DS/Wii U the family friendly games then hardcore.

Sure you got Borderlands 2 in 2014, XCOM or others in 2016, other mobile ports. Even Lego games tried the mobile port to 3DS/Vita and people weren't happy so they back tracked on that. They got audience particular. While real Vita audiences got Indies, collected games or got whatever looked interesting to them.

So Sony went eh it's too much effort to have studios scale games or make new ones for Vita so we have the PS2 HD PS3 collections on Vita regardless of performance, have family friendly games on there (compared to NEC with the PC-FX going eh it's failing make it have adult games on there) and switched to an Indies style.

Which PSVR2 is doing, keep it around for those interested but that's it. Many even with PSP went 'eh DS port to PSP' because 3rd parties don't care about the powerful hardware, they just cheapen out by the end of however far through.

Some PSP games that are PS3/360 IPs did try different things (Army of Two 40th Day), other times PS3 to PSP/Vita ports (Split Second or Minecraft Vita) Or you got Wii/PS2/PSP ports as well.

Like Vita (not completely the same), less sales but an Indies first platform just not as well directed as Vita was I think but even by 2016 management was changing and the Indie side support sort of fell for Sony caring but the Indies knew the Vita userbase cared enough so they still supported it.

Same with many Vita owners being Asian English release interested or Limited Run/other limited copy companies for physical Indies. Aka you were either a Vita collector or a someone who got whatever interested you (western only games, a mix of western/Japanese releases or dabbled in Indies), or didn't have a Vita at all.

@Jireland92 It's why I didn't mention a dock with a companion device. With a proper handheld yeah. Like PSP cables, Vita PS Vita TV, or Switch it makes sense to cater enough to audiences for that these days of TV/handheld, whatever a user feels like, no doubt about that.

If like laptops people use a projector or a HDMI/VGA, etc. cable to a TV or monitor then sure. There is a benefit to a handheld with a dock, upscaling or just TV compatibility for it then wireless casting it. There is a reason I assume Wii U/PS4 did the processing end for Gamepad and PS Vita. Hence why no dock or no cable/adapter kind of thing.

It varies per how they do it but I just had a weak phone and a third party app so it's not the best to go on for that side of things compared to Nintendo/Sony's work of non noticeable lag, my phone casting was like 3 seconds lag it was so noticeable.

The Switch 2 I get why they would make the dock have the upscaling for developers wanting 4K/other benefits they want to use. More to put on that side then push the handheld too much with extra processing, weaken battery life as to me the 3 to 7 hours over time efficiency they get out of things is impressive, or make it a too expensive ahead of it's time thing either. That and a dock/cable makes sense then a dock to wifi. Ethernet sure, but even then data processing just makes more sense with a dock/HDMI cable.

The Sony one I am only guessing Portal like design from a business stand point, less work on devs, as shown with no dual screen, no fanciness, it's just a Dualsense with a tablet and a wifi connection, like having a smartphone, PS5 to PS4, or any other screen, app, processing capabilities, less for 3rd parties to ignore and waste of support, less Vita like 1st party pulling away staff/resources to work on it. If they can make 3rd parties support it and not have too much trouble with 1st party sure. That's why I agree people assume more PS4 or 5 ports. Unless they want devs to go oh you have Series S/Switch 2 like spec, whether more powerful or not what they use as a base, tweak elements and more. There are so many devices to support as it is, so these days it's very hmm of what they'd support not just for sales.

Many games supported DS not just for sales but spec to go with. 3DS same thing. Or more PS4/Xbox One/PC due to what they preferred supporting. It's why 3DS launch 3rd party western pubs went eh we will give up on hardcore IPs on these things and went family friendly instead.

Remote play has been around since PSP/Vita/smartphone app of the Vita app but without resolution targeting of Vita app.

It's an assumption. Not concrete anything facts. Just my assumption.

@SuntannedDuck2
I was there, wondering which handheld to purchase many years ago: PSP, VITA and 2DS/3DS were on the table. Spend time on research, checked available games, accessories and prices and I went with New 3DS XL.

And no regrets. Amazing handheld, incredible game library. Before they closed e-Shop I managed to purchase whatever was worth to purchase, all the must-haves that were unavailable physically. Still have it. Still use it.
Whenever I am tired of big and time consuming PS5/XSX games I am just playing on 3DS to relax.

Right now, having to choose between PS6 handheld, Xbox handheld, SteamDeck and Switch 1/2 it will be Nintendo all they way. There is no sense to buy Sony/MS handheld since these games will be similar to PS5/6 and XSX games - big, open world, time consuming games for 100 hours that get boring after 20 hours.

Nintendo games may look more colorful, less realistic, but what Nintendo did - they did not follow the trend with power and realism, they deliver more relaxing, high quality games that give fun.

PS. Sorry for the essay xD

@Leinad7 Oh good, yeah I was kind of there for Wii U/3DS eshop, not so PSP one sadly. But I still chip away at the Vita one on occasion.

Amazing libraries. But yeah nowadays, lot of options but hard to pick which. Uh yeah the games are pretty clear of design these days, I'm not really into them either so I just go whatever appealing 3rd party Indies or AAs and then Nintendo but keep my Switch/PS4 as my go to systems, retro ones for pickups there and Xbox One for back compat or odd older Xbox One 3rd parties if I don't see a PS4/Switch copy, or vice versa with Switch and don't' a PS4/Xbox One copy.

I never look at a Nintendo game and go oh it's so colorful, too busy looking at the game design and if it appeals to me or not and many of them do. I'm glad they stick to what they do themselves and stand out it makes their games have a hook I may be interested in and makes them way more appealing.

Even there teen rated games fit enough of the line without going too far and i like that. I don't need it to be realistic or grounded, it just enough while still having a good artstyle or gameplay loop/mechanics/level design and I'm there.

That and like Sony offer console gimmicks I may be into even if not as much as the past from either of them.

Nah I respect essays, if got a lot to say by all means.