Even as rumors continue to circulate about the PlayStation 6 and the challenges it could face at launch due to rising memory and storage costs, Sony is at least somewhat upbeat about the possibilities. While it has yet to acknowledge launch timing, price or specifications, Sony Interactive Entertainment president/CEO Hideaki Nishino provided the first tease yet of a potential handheld.
“PlayStation has long been strongly associated with the idea of playing in the living room. However, in recent years, more users globally have been using personal monitors. In response, we are selling peripherals such as monitors and speakers to break away from the fixed perception that ‘PlayStation equals the living room’ and to broaden usage scenarios,” he said during a Q&A segment earlier this month at the Game and Network Services Segment Small Meeting.
“For the next-generation platform, rather than simply serving as an alternative to PCs, we aim to deliver value that is unique to PlayStation. This includes not only technological advancements but also an expansion of usage styles, enabling a seamless experience that can be enjoyed naturally beyond the living room.”
That last part sure sounds like a handheld but one more akin to the Nintendo Switch 2, which also functions as a home console when docked. There have been rumors about the same for quite some time now, starting with Sony’s push for Power Saver Mode support on its titles, reportedly for the sake of the alleged PS6 handheld.
Last we heard, the alleged SKU, alongside the “regular” PS6, was reportedly on track to launch in Holiday 2027. It’s also seemingly faster than the Xbox Series S, especially in ray tracing and path tracing.
However, things have taken a turn lately, as leaker Kepler_L2 reported that the alleged Bill of Materials for the PS6 had gone up by almost $200. How this would affect the handheld version remains unknown, but delaying it would apparently be pointless, since the specs have been locked in. With Sony unwilling to sell PlayStation consoles at a “significant” loss, the possibility of a $999 console looms ever closer.
