Hardware
With the current prices for memory in 2026 it would be almost impossible. But let’s forget about this problem for a moment and imagine a better future where electronic components are more accessible.
Creating a portable game console is not that hard. People do this with different levels of success and features. Big companies like Valve, small companies like Playdate or Atari (Gamestation Go) and individuals on YouTube.
Here is an example tutorial on how to connect a display and buttons to a board containing a simple RP2040 CPU.
You can go even without soldering
China sells a lot of different boards you can use as bricks to construct electronics. You can also order manufacturing of a PCB for relatively low cost. Custom PCBs open up much wider range of components you can use.
Print a case for your device using a 3d printer and here it is – your portable game console.
More skills in electronics design you have better hardware you can pack into a smaller form factor.
You can design your own PCB with support of DDR memory. You can even use SO-DIMM slots that will allow you to expand the amount of RAM in the future.
It won’t be the level of Nintendo Switch, but with really high skill you will be able to create something close to PSP. For example if you use latest STM32MP2 series. Some of these chips easily reach 1.5 GHZ and have GPU with support of Vulkan 1.3. STM32MP257D for example.
Documentation for this chip is open and available, and you can easily buy the chip itself.
Why I talk specifically about STM32? Because STM32 has chip families of the most powerful microcontrollers with open documentation widely available for consumers.
Manufacturers of the hardware usually have contracts with companies like Qualcomm on the access to more advanced chips. Documentation for such chips is under NDA. Even if you get one accessing all the features without documentation will be impossible. That’s why it’s so difficult to build your own phone with modern hardware.
This long intro was just to say that making an ARM or x86 based handheld for Sony would not be a problem at all. They already have a lot of hardware design experience. They can easily get access to latest chips. They have talents.
Releasing it won’t be a problem as well. Again, the experience here really matters.
But everything else about this handheld will be a problem.
The reason to buy
Both Sony and Xbox went through the experience of missing the market with their new consoles.
For Xbox it was Xbox one. During the presentation led by Don Mattrick gamers were presented with features completely not related to games. Like an ability to watch TV and other entertainment not related to gaming. It went so bad that Microsoft considered closing Xbox.
For Sony the moment of failure was the release of PS3. PS3 is based on Sony’s own processor called CELL that contained 8 cores and a GPU. In reality one core managed others and other one was disabled to reduce the amount of corrupted units and only six were available for an actual game. GPU appeared to be so power hungry that nothing was able to cool CELL down and Sony went with a separate chip they licensed from Nvidia. Similar one to GeForce 7800. Even back then pretty much outdated one.
Besides the device was made in the most premium way possible and 20 GB model was priced at 499 dollars.
This price doesn’t make much sense considering how Sony themselves beat Xbox during PS2 era. Xbox announced the price for their Xbox at 399 dollars. Then went the presenter from Sony and just stated 299. That was enough to win the race before even selling the first unit.
How many years it took for both Xbox and Sony to regain trust? Sony did so only with PS4. Xbox is still struggling thanks to Microsoft.
You can’t just release a device even if you have all the options to do so. If you have high expectations from people you are risking with your reputation. If Sony will release a new portable game console it should be a banger, nevertheless. Unsatisfying release is not an option.
So, let’s consider what they can do if they decide to take this route and release PSP 3. They might go with x86 platform and give it ability to play your PS4 library. This is probably the best option Sony actually has. In theory it should be possible with modern technologies that were already proved to be working in Steam Deck.
But PS4 is 13 years old. Who will make exclusives for it? Sony will need to make new games for both PS4 and PS5 to support this handheld. And for cross-platform games Steam Deck is much more lucrative option for a gamer simply because it’s a full scale PC. It can run free games from the internet. It can do emulation. It allows you to use mods.
PS5 handheld will burn your hands with heat if try to run full scale PS5 games.
Portable console that runs downgraded PS5 games is questionable but possible. With noticeably worse graphics and screen resolution. But again someone will need to port games to this system. It won’t be an easy process and this console will most likely be even more expensive than PS5. You will also need to convince cross platform game developers to port their games to this system.
There is actually nothing much to discuss about ARM. The main problem will be porting the games to it. ARM solves the problem with heat and battery life but who is gonna make these ports? Even for PS5 Sony doesn’t release that many games and they definitely don’t want to reduce this amount even more.
ARM is different from x86 and just recompiling a game for it won’t work.
And in addition to all of this how are they even going to compete with Nintendo Switch 2? It already has library and AAA titles from Nintendo. It has all the games from the first Switch.
There will be no Sony’s handheld
I’m honestly unsure what should happen for them to release it.
It should be some great technological leap where Sony will be able to simply run their PS5 game exclusives on this device. It will be possible only if they solve the problems with heat and battery life.
This device also should be priced less or similar to Nintendo Switch 2 but PS5 is already extremely expensive. And compact version of PS5 will be even more expensive.
Sony already did the maximum they could with the release of PS Portal. It streams the picture from the big brother and allows you to have good graphics and it’s cheap enough for people to buy it. It might be useful in certain cases where your TV is occupied or you laying in a bed.
There is simply no niche for Sony’s new handheld to take. Market is expensive, over-saturated and extremely hostile. Game development in general is in crisis with mass lay offs.
Nintendo chose the best option when they went full portable. With only one device to support.
Sony decided on stationary consoles the moment they abandoned PS Vita and decided to save PS3.
And this market split won’t change for a long long time.