Sony is reportedly working on a Portal console that can play games PlayStation 5 games to rival the Switch and its upcoming successor. Sony currently has a portable system in the form of the PlayStation Portal, but the portable is limited to streaming games, not playing them firsthand. A console that can play PS5 games natively would be potentially revolutionary for the company, helping it finally break into an industry that has been dominated by Nintendo for years.
Internal sources reported Bloomberg that Sony is currently working on prototyping a console for the portable gaming market. The prototype supposedly based on PlayStation Portalwhich can currently only be used if players also have a physical PS5. The new console would be independent like the Steam Deck. However, plans for any portable offering are still years away from being finalized, should the console reach the market.
Sony has already struggled with portable consoles
The PSP and PS Vita were good but unsuccessful ideas
The handheld console that Sony is reportedly prototyping won’t be the company’s first foray into the handheld market. PlayStation Portale and PlayStation Vita These were the company’s first attempts to move from sitting in people’s homes to traveling with them. Although the PSP sold reasonably well, reaching over 80 million sales in the 10 years it was released, the PS Vita was a critical failure that never surpassed 20 million sales.
Despite past failures, Nintendo’s success with the Switch has likely caused Sony to reconsider focusing on home consoles entirely. Being able to take PS5 games on the go would be a huge selling point for many Sony fans. The real test would be whether Sony could make it affordable enough for gamers to buy a portable console from them.
Our Take: The Switch’s Success Inspired Other Console Makers
Nintendo has always created trends, not followed them
When Nintendo first revealed the Nintendo Wii, reactions were largely mixed. Many simply didn’t understand the point of the console, and its seemingly gimmicky motion-based controllers, which didn’t fit in with any of the industry trends at the time. The Wii sold more than 101 million units worldwide, becoming a huge success and entering the emerging family gaming industry. The Wii is just one way in which Nintendo has gone against the grain and done something completely different from its rivals, who have strived to create similar products.
The Nintendo Switch is yet another case of Nintendo doing whatever it wants and the rest of the big console manufacturers behind. While others revealed their powerful home console units, Nintendo revealed the versatile and portable Switch. The Switch ended up being even more successful than the Wii, selling more than 140 million units and leaving Sony and Microsoft hungry for a slice of the portable gaming pie.
Microsoft and Sony are reportedly working on creating portable versions of their consoles in an attempt to catch up to Nintendo. With the announcement of the Switch 2 hanging over the gaming world, Sony PlayStation 5 will have to try harder than ever to match the success of the Switch and its successor.
Source: Bloomberg