Reports suggest that Sony is working on a new handheld device built around cloud streaming, and it could be released ahead of the rumored detachable disc drive and after the PS5 Pro. Said to feature an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and look like a PS5 controller, the device, codenamed the Q Lite, will require the PS5 and will use Sony’s existing Remote Play functionality to adaptively stream gameplay up to 1080p/60fps.
Q Lite and the Second Phase of PS5’s Lifespan
The Q Lite is said to be part of the previously reported “second phase” of the PS5’s lifespan, which Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb stated would also include wireless earphones and a wireless headset. Grubb has seemingly corroborated some of the details of the report, saying that he’s heard details of a cloud-streaming handheld.
- It will resemble a PS5 controller with a massive 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center.
- It will feature adaptive triggers, volume buttons, speakers, and an audio input jack.
- It’s set to use Sony’s existing Remote Play functionality to adaptively stream gameplay up to 1080p/60fps.
Grain of Salt
As with all reports of this nature, it’s important to take this information with a grain of salt, as it purports to describe an unreleased product that may or may not come out, regardless of whether or not the information is reliable.
Competition Among Handheld Devices
The Q Lite would join a market that already includes the Nintendo Switch and the newly announced Steam Deck. The latter, developed by Valve, is expected to launch later this year and has since generated massive buzz in the gaming industry. Given this, it’s not altogether hard to believe that Sony would release a streaming device like the Q Lite, as they would be entering the market with some strong competition.
