Sony Working On Switch-Like Console, According to Report

Sony is reportedly working on a portal console that can play 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 handheld is limited to streaming games, not running them firsthand. A console that can natively play PS5 games would be potentially game-changing for the company, helping it to finally break into an industry that’s been dominated by Nintendo for years.

Insider sources have informed Bloomberg that Sony is currently working on prototyping a console for the portable gaming market. The prototype allegedly builds on the PlayStation Portal, which can currently only be used if players have a physical PS5, as well. The new console would be a standalone one like the Steam Deck. However, plans for any portable offering are still years out from completion, if the console ever even makes it to market.

Sony Has Previously Struggled With Handheld Consoles

The PSP And PS Vita Were Good But Unsuccessful Ideas

The portable console that Sony is reportedly prototyping won’t be the company’s first foray into the handheld market. The PlayStation Portale and the PlayStation Vita were the company’s first attempts at making the move from sitting in people’s homes to traveling with them. Although the PSP sold fairly well, reaching over 80 million sales in the 10 years it was out, the PS Vita was a critical failure that never broke 20 million sales.

Two anthropomorphic creatures called lombaxes and a small robot are centered. On the right is a woman with long red hair and quasi-futuristic armor. On the right is a bald man with ash-white skin and red tattoos across his body.

15 Best PlayStation 5 Games Right Now

The PlayStation 5 is home to a number of incredible games, including platform exclusives and multi-platform games that are considered all-time greats.

Despite the previous failures, Nintendo’s success with the Switch has likely gotten Sony to reconsider focusing entirely on home consoles. Being able to take PS5 games on the go would be a potentially huge selling point for many Sony fans. The real test would be whether Sony can make it affordable enough for players to buy a portable console from them.

Our Take: The Success Of The Switch Has Inspired Other Console Makers

Nintendo Has Always Created Trends, Not Followed Them

When Nintendo first unveiled the Nintendo Wii, reactions were largely confused. Many just didn’t understand the point of the console, and it’s seemingly gimmicky movement-based controllers, which didn’t go with any of the industry trends of the time. The Wii went on to sell over 101 million units worldwide, becoming a huge success and breaking into the budding 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 were left scrambling to create similar products.

The Nintendo Switch is another case of Nintendo doing what it wants and the rest of the big console makers trailing behind. While others were revealing their powerful home console units, Nintendo unveiled the versatile and portable Switch. The Switch turned out to be even more successful than the Wii, selling over 140 million units and making Sony and Microsoft hungry for a slice of the portable gaming pie.

Microsoft and Sony are both reportedly working on creating portable versions of their consoles in an attempt to catch up to Nintendo. With the Switch 2 announcement looming over the gaming world, Sony’s PlayStation 5 will have to try harder than ever to go up against the success of the Switch and its successor.

Source: Bloomberg