Sony is taking a risky bet by entering the handheld console market again, following the commercial failure of the PlayStation Vita. However, the Japanese firm plans to adopt a new strategy with the Q Lite console. The machine is not entirely portable but instead based on Remote Play technology that Sony has been trying to develop in recent times. The Q Lite will still rely on the PS5 to work. And will be capable of streaming games at up to 60 frames per second in 1080p. It comes with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and controls similar to those of the DualSense.
Everything we know about the upcoming Portable PlayStation console
While the announcement of the ASUS ROG Ally has revived news in the portable console market, Sony is also making a significant move. According to Tom Henderson via Insider Gaming, the Q Lite is still in the quality test phase. And its marketing could be launched between that of the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro. However, the relevance of the Q Lite console is questionable, given what it offers. And it could suffer the same fate as Logitech G Cloud and PS VR2. An official announcement from Sony is expected on the occasion of a possible PlayStation Showcase in June.
It is worth noting that the handheld console market has not been as popular in recent years due to the rise of mobile gaming. Smartphones and tablets have become the go-to devices for casual gamers. And this has resulted in a decline in the demand for dedicated handheld consoles. However, there is still a niche market for handheld consoles. And Sony is hoping to tap into that market with the Q Lite.
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Furthermore, Sony has a history of success in the console market with their PlayStation brand. And they have a loyal fan base that will likely buy the Q Lite. If Sony can deliver on the promises of the Q Lite, it could be a successful addition to their lineup of gaming devices. However, only time will tell if the Q Lite will be able to compete with other handheld consoles on the market and regain Sony’s position as a leader in the handheld console market.
Sony’s Q Lite: A New Contender in the Handheld Console Market
The latest rumors about Sony’s portable console come from Tom Henderson, a former journalist who is now known for his leaks about competitive FPS games like Call of Duty and Battlefield. For several months, he has been increasing rumors around PlayStation. Including the arrival of a PlayStation 5 with an external Blu-ray player. However, his latest announcement was vaguer, stating that Sony was working on a new type of hardware that has not been the subject of rumors or announcements until now. This ruled out revisions to the PS5 as well as any future console wireless headphones. Fans then speculated about a new PlayStation portable console.
Another journalist, Jeff Grubb, heard rumors about a portable console dedicated to cloud gaming. Which is a recent idea on the market. This console would offer a physical controller, a screen, and an internet connection for game streaming. But without the computing power necessary to run games natively offline on the device. To promote its PlayStation Plus Premium, which provides access to a catalog of streaming PlayStation 4 games, Sony could develop a new device in its ecosystem alongside the PS5 and PS VR2. Such a device could also play “Remote Play” from a local console.
In summary, there are two rumors about Sony’s portable console. One suggests a PlayStation 5 accessory that uses remote play function and the other suggests a dedicated cloud gaming console. Both rumors remain unconfirmed by Sony, and fans will have to wait for an official announcement to know for sure.