Sony may be preparing to launch a handheld version of the PlayStation 6 as part of its next-generation gaming strategy, according to fresh clues revealed during the company’s recent business briefing.
The speculation comes after Sony announced it would phase out physical game discs, signalling a major shift towards an all-digital PlayStation ecosystem.
During an investor question-and-answer session, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Hideaki Nishino repeatedly emphasised the company’s ambition to move gaming “beyond the living room”, suggesting future PlayStation experiences will no longer be centred solely around traditional home consoles.
Nishino said Sony aims to make the PlayStation ecosystem more accessible by adapting to changing player habits and expanding gaming across different environments.
When discussing next-generation hardware, Sony highlighted the PlayStation Portal as an example of delivering gaming experiences outside the home, suggesting portable gaming will play a much larger role in the future.
The company also stressed that it wants to offer experiences unique to PlayStation rather than simply competing with gaming PCs.
While cloud gaming remains part of Sony’s long-term strategy, the company indicated it still believes dedicated gaming devices provide the best experience. Sony noted that smartphones and PCs cannot consistently deliver the controller-based gameplay and display quality expected from PlayStation.
Executives also hinted that lightweight cloud-enabled handheld devices could become increasingly attractive as hardware costs continue to rise.
Sony acknowledged that future PlayStation hardware is unlikely to become cheaper, saying it no longer intends to sell consoles at significant losses and will instead focus on demonstrating value to consumers.
The company also reaffirmed that backward compatibility will remain an important feature, allowing players to continue accessing games from previous PlayStation generations through its expanding digital ecosystem.
Industry observers believe Sony’s comments reinforce long-standing reports that the PlayStation 6 will include a dedicated handheld model capable of playing PS5 titles. Such a device would naturally align with Sony’s decision to eliminate physical game discs, as handheld systems are expected to rely entirely on digital downloads.
Although Sony has yet to officially unveil the PlayStation 6, its latest strategy signals a future centred on portable gaming, digital game distribution and a PlayStation experience that extends well beyond the traditional living room.
