PS Vita 2? Sony CEO fuels rumors of a new PlayStation handheld

After Sony officially announced the end of physical PlayStation game discs, many gamers have started questioning what added value a PlayStation 6 would still offer over a gaming PC. One possible answer has received comparatively little attention so far: a dedicated PlayStation handheld that would allow users to play their games not only at home on the couch but also on the go. Until now, portable PlayStation gaming has mainly been possible through the PlayStation Portal, which is limited to streaming.

Well-known hardware leaker Moore's Law Is Dead had already floated the idea of a "PlayStation Vita 2" in early 2024. According to that rumor, the handheld could launch alongside Sony’s next console generation and run PlayStation games natively, making it usable in cars, on planes, or anywhere else where the internet connection is not reliable enough for smooth streaming. On Reddit, it is already clear that such a device would appeal to many fans. A lot of users imagine a concept similar to the Nintendo Switch, where the same digital game library works both on the home console and on a portable handheld.

A recent interview with Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has now added further fuel to the speculation. Speaking with the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu (in Japanese), Nishino said that PlayStation could use technologies in the future that can be deployed "in various forms and in various places." He also emphasized that "pick-up-and-play" experiences are becoming increasingly important for today’s players. Nishino did not announce a new handheld, but his comments certainly fit the direction of current rumors. Should Sony actually have such hardware in development, fans will probably still have to wait a while for concrete details. At present, the PlayStation 6 is not expected before 2028.