Sony PlayStation 6 plans: handheld is reportedly taking center stage

What price do fans pay for a mobile PlayStation 6 from Sony? According to insiders, the group is developing a handheld for the in-house ecosystem. Buyers will probably have to dig deep into their pockets and completely forego classic discs in the future.

Focus on mobile gaming

Sony is apparently reorganizing its strategy for the next PlayStation generation. Statements from management at an investor meeting in Japan indicate that mobility is becoming more of a focus. A portable device could play a central role within the future console family. The background is changing gaming habits and the success of hybrid systems. A move away from traditional games on television is already becoming apparent. With the PlayStation Portal, Sony has taken its first steps outside of the living room, but the device has so far relied on a stationary console.

In the future, the gaming experience should be possible natively on a handheld. Mobile hardware is not new territory for Sony: the PlayStation Portable (PSP) already relied on a similar concept. As The Verge reports, the strategy also aims at a digital ecosystem. Drives for physical games are therefore considered to be phased out. Software would be sold exclusively through the company’s own store; there would be no second-hand market. At the same time, Sony is hoping for higher margins to compensate for increased hardware costs.

Shared response in the community

After the failure of the PlayStation Vita, Sony withdrew from the mobile console market for a long time. However, the success of the Nintendo Switch and devices like the Steam Deck show continued high demand for powerful handhelds. The plans are evaluated differently among the players. While some welcome the ability to play extensive titles on mobile, there is also criticism. Above all, possible prices of around 700 euros for a powerful device are being discussed.

There are also fears that classic stationary consoles could play a smaller role in the future. Infographic power consumption: PlayStation 5 is the power guzzler among consoles. Industry observers name several prerequisites for success: a common game library for handheld and home console, backwards compatibility with existing digital titles and a competitive entry price. It remains to be seen whether Sony meets these requirements. A purely digital handheld as your main console.