Sony is once again dipping its toes in the handheld gaming market and has officially confirmed it’s hard at work on a new PlayStation handheld dubbed Project Q. During the recent PlayStation Showcase event, Jim Ryan, the President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, made an exciting announcement, revealing that Sony is gearing up to release a handheld device that promises to redefine the way players enjoy their PS5 games.
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Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Contrary to expectations, Project Q does not position itself as a spiritual successor to the PlayStation Vita and isn’t even a traditional portable “console.” Instead, the handheld serves more like a companion streaming device that allows you to stream your favorite PS5 games on the go, utilizing the power of Remote Play over a Wi-Fi connection. “We will launch a dedicated device that enables you to stream any game from your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi,” PlayStation head honcho Jim Ryan said during the showcase. “Internally known as ‘Project Q,’ it has an 8-inch HD screen and all of the buttons and features of the DualSense wireless controller.”
Since the product is still in its development phases, it doesn’t have a name yet. However, as per a Sony press release, the handheld will boast an 8-inch LCD screen capable of delivering stunning visuals at 1080p resolution and a seamless 60 frames per second when connected to Wi-Fi. Taking cues from the Dualsense controller, Sony has also integrated adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, ensuring gamers will be treated to an unparalleled level of immersion. However, Sony’s announcement comes with some caveats. Firstly, the games you want to play on the handheld must be installed on your PlayStation 5 console.
‘Project Q’ | Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony also remained tight-lipped regarding its ability to stream games beyond the home. After the PlayStation Showcase event, Ryan said, “(Project Q) It also highlights the tremendous popularity and power of the PS5 as the global development community rallies to push its advanced capabilities to the limit. We’re investing heavily in the future with innovative best-in-class hardware like PlayStation VR2 and the newly revealed Project Q, and our expansion into PC, Mobile and Live Service gaming is transforming how and where our content can be enjoyed.”
With Valve’s Steam Deck rekindling interest in the handheld gaming segment, companies across the board are jumping on the bandwagon, eager to claim their piece of the portable gaming cake.
Sony’s surprises don’t end with the handheld streaming device. Alongside it, the company unveiled stylish Bluetooth earbuds designed for the PS5, capable of seamless connectivity with consoles, mobile devices, and PCs. Sony says that release dates, names, pricing and other details for both Project Q and the earbuds will be revealed at a later date.
Sony’s first-ever gaming wireless earbuds | Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment
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