I honestly think MS will beat them to it.They wouldn't even have to mandate first party support. So many third party titles run natively on Steamdeck just fine. Put it out, native support for PS4 titles, remote play PS5, tons of third parties, 30% cut of everyone.
Main thing is to beat Microsoft to market.
Not to mention, the thing everyone trashes them for now (requiring a separate lower optimization for Series S from all devs) will pay dividends for a whole additional handheld generation. Sony doesn't have those uniquely optimized builds. They'd be stuck on cloud still.I honestly think MS will beat them to it.
Sony just seem to slow, probably will be content with the portal being their handheld for now.
BREAKING NEWS: Companies can work on multiple things at onceThey can barely get games out on PS5 and you guys want a handheld?
The best case scenario that I see, Sony releases a new handheld based on the Portal blueprint, but of course chonkier. This device can natively play PS1, PS2, PS4, PSP games downloaded from PSN. It can also play select PS5 games that have been specifically downported to run on this device, so case by case basis. Additionally, if/when Sony develops an emulator for PS Vita and PS3 games, add those to the above list for native playback. Additionally it can do remote play and cloud streaming.
Package it up and offer it for at least $499 USD. That way the Portal remains a viable option for those who only want remote play (and cloud streaming once it's eventually added) at $199 and those who want the ability to play games natively get their option at $499. Use this gen as a testbed for such a strategy for the handheld device to be released next gen around the mid-way point just like the PS6 Pro.
The Series S optimised game isn't going to become a handheld game without further optimisation any more than a PS4 is.Not to mention, the thing everyone trashes them for now (requiring a separate lower optimization for Series S from all devs) will pay dividends for a whole additional handheld generation. Sony doesn't have those uniquely optimized builds. They'd be stuck on cloud still.
BREAKING NEWS: Companies can work on multiple things at once
Well it worked out for the portal considering it's looked on as a successAnd that worked so well for the Vita, PSVR, and PSVR2.
They didn't have to support it with games though which helps.Well it worked out for the portal considering it's looked on as a success![]()
Depending on when this thing would come out (I'm assuming a good 3-4 years from now), that wouldn't be good enough. It has to be able to natively play all PS5 games; whether that's while portable or docked, it should just be expected.
Ideally it should be able to play downscaled PS6 games but not require devs to specifically make downscaled versions themselves (to avoid Series S-type problems). Which means more advanced PSSR and more AI-driven silicon that can smartly grab assets & scale them up & down (of course the PS6 proper would have all this same tech).
Sony most likely will just release a PS Portal 2 after PS6.
No reason to repeat the same issue as the PS Vita or Xbos Series S.
Sony sold off their PC business ages ago, they don't own the Vaio brand anymore.Maybe they could repurpose the Sony Vaio Brand, Playstation Vaio. PC games and dedicated streaming solution with Duelsense support.
They wouldn't really have to support this native handheld with dedicated games either.They didn't have to support it with games though which helps.
Portal is an accessory, not a software/hardware platform. It's basically a DualSense with screen.Well it worked out for the portal considering it's looked on as a success![]()
Sony learned their lesson that creating a different ecosystem was a bad idea, I'm sure this time it would be a unified platform.Portal is an accessory, not a software/hardware platform. It's basically a DualSense with screen.
The way I see it, Sony learned their lesson with Vita and will just optimize ports for Deck and release a better portal later on.
Sony isn't particularly good at it, tbh.BREAKING NEWS: Companies can work on multiple things at once
Well it worked out for the portal considering it's looked on as a success![]()
100% this.It can also play select PS5 games that have been specifically downported to run on this device, so case by case basis.