Play Station CEO says Sony will be 'leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations' for future consoles, potentially suggesting a PS6 handheld is in the cards | Tech Radar
Overview
News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
Details
Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Play Station CEO says Sony will be 'leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations' for future consoles, potentially suggesting a PS6 handheld is in the cards
Sony "wants to continue providing its own game consoles"
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Play Station boss Hideaki Nishino says "pick up and play" is the most important quality for consoles nowadays
He says Sony wants to leverage tech "that can be used in various forms and locations"
The CEO's comments suggest that Sony is looking to rejoin the handheld market
A new Play Station handheld could be on the table after comments from Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino suggest the company wants to create new hardware similar to the Nintendo Switch 2.
In an interview with Famitsu (translated by IGN), Nishino was asked whether Play Station plans to continue focusing on consoles, following a past comment he made in 2024 about how hardware won't be disappearing any time soon.
The CEO confirmed it would, saying, "My belief that a console is necessary for playing games hasn’t changed," adding that Sony "wants to continue providing its own game consoles."
But what sort of consoles? Nishino went on to mention that "pick up and play" is the most important quality for consoles nowadays, which instantly makes one think of the Switch 2 or Play Station Portal.
Nishino continued, saying that developing new consoles will mean Sony will be "leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations" and that this would enable Sony "to create something exciting."
Sony may launch three PS6 devices in 2027, including a budget and main console and a handheld device all ranging between '
Sony is hesitant to price the PS6, and the reason is probably quite clear
This upcoming retro handheld looks like the PSP successor I've been waiting for
"For example, although the Play Station brand is strongly associated with playing on the TV in the living room, we’re planning to release monitors and speakers so that people can play comfortably in other locations as well," Nishino said. "We developed the Play Station Portal as part of this initiative."
The Play Station Portal is a remote player, allowing PS5 users to play their PS5 games via their handheld device, a challenge Sony took on to create a new kind of gameplay experience, according to Nishino.
"We were thinking, 'Let’s try this, let’s try that,' and I’d like us to move forward with developing products while exploring various ideas in this way," he said.
While the Play Station Portal is a handheld console, its purpose is built for streaming and cloud gaming, unlike the PSP and the PS Vita.
While the PSP took off and became Sony's biggest handheld ever, selling 70 million units, the PS Vita didn't fare too well, shifting an estimated 15 to 16 million units before it was discontinued in 2019.
If Sony plans to rejoin the handheld market, it will have tough competition if it goes against the Switch 2, which has officially sold almost 6 million units within its first year of release.
A PS6 handheld has been rumored for some time. According to a reliable insider and leaker, Moore's Law is Dead, Sony will launch its next-generation Play Station with three devices in 2027, including two consoles and a companion handheld.
Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
➡️ Read our full guide to the best gaming consoles
- Best overall: Play Station 5 Slim
- Best budget: Xbox Series S
- Best handheld: Nintendo Switch 2
- Most powerful: Play Station 5 Pro
Demi is a freelance games journalist who helps cover gaming news at Tech Radar. She's been a games writer for five years and has written for outlets such as Game Spot, NME, and Games Radar, covering news, features, and reviews. Outside of writing, she plays a lot of RPGs and talks far too much about Star Wars on X.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
1 Don’t miss Prime Day’s best TV deals! I’ve picked great offers on TVs we’ve reviewed and rate highly, including OLEDs from LG and Samsung, big-screen TCL TVs and more
2I think I've found my dream gaming chair this Prime Day — and no, it's not a Secretlab chair
3 Buying a Kindle Colorsoft in the Prime Day deals extravaganza? Don't forget a case — these ones are all on sale too (for now)
4I've been looking for a smart speaker for the kitchen and this is my last chance to pick up the Amazon Echo Spot for 50% off
5 New report reveals the Nintendo Switch 2 is the second fastest-selling video game hardware in US history, as Xbox and PS5 unit sales struggle
Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
Key Takeaways
- News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
- Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
