According to a report by Tom Henderson at Insider Gaming, Sony is working on a new PlayStation gaming handheld, but it may not be a successor to the PlayStation Vita.
The handheld, called the “Q Lite,” is primarily designed to work with the Remote Play feature on the PlayStation 5 and stream games from the console over the internet, rather than playing games natively.
The Q Lite will feature an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, 60fps gaming at 1080p, and adaptive triggers similar to those on the PS5’s DualSense controller.
The device is rumored to be released between 2023 and 2024 and will need to be connected to the internet at all times while gaming.
The Q Lite may appeal to gamers who live in households with multiple people vying for time on the same TV.
However, the price tag of the Q Lite, which is rumored to be in the same range as the Steam Deck, might be a non-starter for some consumers.
Despite this, Sony has the hardware skills to make a great gaming handheld, as evidenced by its previous successes with the Vita and original PSP.
One concern is whether the Q Lite will be locked into Sony’s ecosystem or if it will be open to rival services like Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming or Valve’s own Steam Remote Play.
Although there are no rumors of Sony producing a true successor to the PlayStation Vita, it may be due to the challenges of supporting two very different consoles with games. Thus, it is not surprising that Sony may want to avoid splitting its attention in the future.
Despite the lack of hard evidence for the Q Lite and Sony’s other rumored consoles, the idea of a gaming handheld designed to work with Remote Play is an intriguing concept.
It could be particularly appealing for households with multiple people vying for time on the same TV. However, the Q Lite’s success will largely depend on its pricing, as buying a premium-priced device just for streaming games might not be feasible for everyone.
That being said, Sony has a proven track record in developing successful gaming handhelds such as the Vita and PSP.
Additionally, the Q Lite is said to come equipped with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen designed for 60fps gaming at 1080p and adaptive triggers similar to those on the PS5’s DualSense controller. If the Q Lite lives up to the expectations, it could be a great device for gaming on the go.
One potential concern with the Q Lite is whether it will be locked into Sony’s ecosystem, limiting its compatibility with other streaming services.
However, Sony’s other accessories such as the Pulse 3D headset and InZone gaming monitors are cross-platform, so it’s not impossible for the Q Lite to be open to rival services.
Overall, while it may be disappointing for fans of the PlayStation Vita, the Q Lite could be an exciting addition to Sony’s lineup of gaming devices.
Whether it will succeed or not remains to be seen, but with Sony’s history of producing high-quality gaming handhelds, the Q Lite is definitely something to keep an eye on.
