Will the PlayStation 6 be a portable console? Not only speculation, but Sony itself suggests it

The PlayStation 6 might not just be another big box under the TV. Sony has started talking remarkably often about gaming outside the living room, about different ways of using it, and about a device that won’t be tied to a single screen. Part of the players therefore interpret the company’s statements as the strongest hint yet that an important part of the next generation will be a portable PlayStation capable of running games directly.

Sony wants to take PlayStation beyond the TV stand

The most important clues come directly from Sony. In a June meeting with investors, the company stated that in developing the next generation, it wants to anticipate changes in how and where people play. As an example of a device adapted for gaming outside the living room, it mentioned PlayStation Portal and later added that it wants to break down the ingrained idea that PlayStation equals playing on a TV, as we reported earlier.

This is not yet confirmation of a portable PS6. PlayStation Portal is primarily a device for remote play and cloud gaming today, not a full-fledged console running big games locally. However, Sony also emphasizes that it wants to offer a seamless experience in various environments and that it is considering multiple technological, hardware, and business scenarios.

Handheld as the main PS6, home console as a more expensive variant?

An analysis by The Verge admits two main possibilities. Sony could introduce two separate devices – a portable PS6 and a more powerful console for the TV – or create a hybrid in the style of the Nintendo Switch. The boldest scenario assumes that the handheld will be the base model of the new generation, while the home console will move into the role of a more expensive premium machine.

Such a move would make business sense. Portable gaming is significantly more popular thanks to the Switch and devices like the Steam Deck than it was in the era of PSP and PS Vita. Moreover, a player doesn’t actually have to travel – a big advantage of a handheld is also the ability to play at home in bed, on the couch, or next to an occupied TV.

At the same time, it would be a relatively complex technical challenge. If a portable PlayStation is to run the same games as a home PS6, it must have enough memory and power, only with lower resolution and limited graphical details. Furthermore, Sony has openly told investors that it does not want to sell hardware at a significant loss. Therefore, a low price cannot be taken for granted.

Players have three main conditions

Discussions among fans show that there is interest in a portable PS6, but it is not unconditional. The most frequently repeated demand is for a shared game library, so that it is not necessary to buy separate versions for the handheld and home console. The portable model should only render the same titles at a lower resolution or with worse details.

The second condition is the continuation of the classic home console. Some players do not want Sony to sacrifice performance and make the portable device the only true PS6. The third question is the price. Very different estimates are appearing in the community, from amounts competing with the Switch to over 800 dollars, but none of these figures come from Sony.

At this moment, we only know that Sony is preparing the next generation, wants to expand the way PlayStation is used, and repeatedly talks about gaming outside the living room. Whether this will result in a standalone handheld, a hybrid, or just a significantly improved successor to the Portal remains to be seen.

Would you like a portable PS6 with the same games as a home console, or do you prefer maximum performance on a TV?

Sources: Sony, The Verge, Reddit, Notebookcheck