Oh, is it time for Sony to self-sabotage again?
this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2024
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Eh. They've been great at that but I dont see this as it. Handheld stuff is cool and popular right now. Don't get me wrong, they definitely could self sabotage here. They 100% did with the vita and their egregiously expensive memory cards....
But the PSP and Vita were great devices aside from that. I could see this working
Vita was technically impressive, far more capable than the DS. I've got an OLED Vita and I'm amazed how nice it still looks.
But the Vita inevietably lost to Nintendo because it struggled with popularity, and therefore struggled with number of games made for it. It's a catch 22.
If Sony can make a portable that plays all your PS5 library (without needing to buy any of it again) then they might actually be on a winner.
The Vita was a 3DS competitor, not a DS competitor. They kind of tried to outgimmick Nintendo with this one, unsuccessfully, I might add, because they didn't build the system around these features, but slapped them on in such a way that developers and players could just ignore them.
The PS5 controller is somewhat of a descendant of this device, although its features are a bit better supported - and it would be trivially easy to integrate them into a handheld.
As for processing power, they need to find a way to get the same CPU power as a base PS5 and enough GPU power for somewhere around 1080p (since going any lower would render many games designed for the home console unplayable) into a cost-, heat, space- and power-efficient package. Most of this work is on AMD, Sony just has to package it. Maybe they can get away with a system that simply forces a lower output resolution for existing games so that less GPU power is needed - or they wait long enough for it to be possible to miniaturize a full-fat PS5 into a portable device. I think the latter is unlikely though, at least within a time frame that would allow for a PS5P to coexist with the PS5 instead of the PS6.
I genuinely think it's already possible. The PS5 doesn't exactly have a very new processor, it's a 4000-series (desktop) Renoir, 7nm, Zen 2 architecture. The Z1E (the chip in the Lenovo Legion Go & ROG Ally X) is a 7040-series (mobile) Phoenix, 4nm, Zen 4/RDNA3 architecture.
The Z1E is basically 10% less performant for about 1/4 the juice. You could easily keep the same resolution, whilst dropping things like particles, shadow effects, etc that aren't going to be as missed on a much smaller display. I've got a Legion but I believe the Ally X has a docked higher TDP mode that would push it to being competitive with the PS5, or at least it would certainly be possible with an active cooling dock.
AMD literally designed the Z1E for handhelds, so Sony would be remiss not to use it. That or a potential "Z2E" successor chip seen as this one is pushing over 18 months since it was announced.
https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-sony_playstation_5-vs-amd_ryzen_z1_extreme
You could easily keep the same resolution, whilst dropping things like particles, shadow effects, etc
This would require per-game adjustments, which is not something you can ask of devs mid-gen, especially not retroactively. Developers already hate that they have to optimize for Xbox Series S - and that console was available from the start. This portable PS5 can only be a success if it "just works" and the only way to do that is by having the exact amount of CPU power as the home console and reducing the output resolution automatically, perhaps with the help of PSSR. Until there is an efficient APU that can pull this off, the console can't be released.
PS5, kinda famously, has no exclusive games. I doubt it would be that taxing on devs to essentially create a build that changes it from Ultra settings to High equivalent to the PC versions when they're all running on an x86 platform. The Series S is just garbage hardware that Microsoft should have never released, the Z1E already outperforms it handily.
I also, out of curiosity, did a search for the "Z2E" and it looks like a large leak surrounding it hit last month: https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/handhelds/the-amd-chip-that-could-power-next-gen-handhelds-just-leaked-but-rumored-specs-keep-shifting/
This chip would be more than capable of matching the PS5's APU. But the Z2 they're releasing alongside it will be decently cheaper while matching the Z1E's performance. So it'll come down to whether Sony prioritises cost or performance. My money's on cost though, they're going to want this thing to be cheaper than a Steam Deck, and the Z2E will put it in Legion Go/Ally X price territory.
It's an ongoing process.
As someone who adored the PSP back in the day... Sony will f this up.
Fooled me with Vita, not gonna fool me again. I still remember that they tried to brick any non-modded device by cutting PS Store support.
Third time's the charm, eh?
I'd go with a PS4 based handheld, easier to miniaturize with today's tech, should have lower TDP etc
Microsoft has the Edge here (see what I did?) when it comes to handheld, because they already have a weaker hardware that games on Xbox must be able to run, the Series S. This baseline could be used as a handheld compatibility (at least from performance perspective). Sony on the other hand has a monster console and no weaker version of it. So there is much more and longer to developer. For the coming years, I'm not convinced Sony would be capable of doing that. Also imagine the price it would have.
I don't think Sony wants a PS4 handheld while Microsoft has the newer generation Series S based handheld. Sony wants to sell new games, not the old one.
Read my comment if you like speculation and future prediction.
It's a bit too early to talk about this. First the Switch 2 will come out, then probably Steam Deck 2, then Xbox Portable and only then Sony is ready to release. At that point its already in the middle of the Switch 2's life cycle and the market is full of handhelds. If Sony comes up with expensive prices again, it will be a tough sale (in the long run) and it ends up being a similar failure (for units sold) like the Vita.
The Playstation Portal just streams and is already 200 Dollar. It's basically a tablet with controllers attached to it, but less capable. If Sony goes the route of Apple and markets the Playstation Handheld as a premium device for hardcore fans, then do not expect it being cheaper than 500, around same price as the original PS5. I hope Sony will surprise me.
Already do remote play through my phone with a backbone, so this would just give me a bigger screen, I guess
If all you want to do is remote play, the PlayStation Portal is already out and well received.
The Portal was definitely not well received. It was a marketing disaster and an embarrassment.
A lot of the initial criticisms have been fixed in further updates. Now the connection is very stable, works with outside networks. They just implemented PS Plus PS5 streaming (so without connecting to a console).
They are selling unexpectedly well.
It might not be your cup of tea, but I would hardly call this an embrasement.
Are you really cherry picking some big media outlets like IGN? It was another IGN moment where most peoples opinion did not match what IGN rated. They gave the Steam Deck 7/10...
At launch it was not well received, with many issues, being overpriced and the only compatible earphones being very expensive and not available too. It was an embarrassment through and through at launch across almost all media and users. I've read and watched reviews and opinions. You are not being honest here, as some of the biggest issues are fixed just recently and some over the course of 1 year since it launched.
~~But it only works in the same wifi.~~
I'm sorry, but that is just not true. Even 5g hotspot from smartphone allows people to have access to their PS5.
You are right, the description on the product page is only talking about Home Wifi and playing at home. Which led me to believe it cannot be used remotely. Only when looking at the FAQ they clarify it can be used anywhere.
No problem, nice of you to correct your previous comment! Have a nice day :)