Sony used to be a giant in the handheld console market, and it’s been a while since Sony released a portable console.

With rumors of a new handheld project in the works, what could we expect from it? Is it just a PS Remote Play accessory, a full-fledged gaming device, or something else entirely?

Rumors About the Sony Handheld Gaming Device

Sony has a handheld gaming device in the works under the name "Q Lite," according to reports from Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming. However, there's more than one category in the handheld gaming market, and it doesn't look like Sony will directly compete with the Steam Deck.

According to the rumors, the Q Lite project might just be a PS Remote Play device as Sony has been consistently promoting the feature. Fans have been waiting for a successor to the PSP and the PS Vita to compete with the likes of the Steam Deck, Aya Neo, ONEXPlayer, and the ROG Ally. So, the potential news that there won't be a full-fledged portable PlayStation coming could be disheartening for many gamers to hear.

The Q Lite project is rumored to be released near the end of 2023 along with more PS5 accessories like its upcoming wireless earphones and headset projects.

Will Sony's Handheld Gaming Device Be a PS5 Accessory or a Console?

Not much detail is known about the Q Lite project, but we have reason to believe that the Q Lite will just be a PS5 accessory as Sony looks to be doubling down on the PS5.

Ever since the discontinuation of its handhelds, Sony has taken the approach of focusing on a single platform and expanding on it; creating accessories that enhance the experience of its main product.

However, another thing that Sony does is create multiple versions of its consoles. It sounds far-fetched, but besides a PS5 Slim or Pro version, we could also be getting a handheld PS5.

Valve has proven that it is possible with the Steam Deck being able to play all the PS5 title games available on Steam (and use PS Remote Play). Sony could just follow Valve's lead and create its own portable PS5. However exciting this is, given the rumor, it's more likely that the Q Lite is there to supplement the core-PS5 experience.

Sony Might Join the Handheld Cloud Gaming Market

The Q Lite has potential, but it would fall short of greatness if all it does is do just one thing that the Steam Deck and even your phone plus a wireless controller can already do. Check out how to set up PS Remote Play on your PS5 to play on your mobile devices; you don't need a Q Lite to enjoy PS Remote Play.

Out of its different PlayStation Plus tiers, Sony already has a cloud streaming service included in the PlayStation Plus premium tier subscription, albeit limited to PS4 games and older. While the rumors say that the Q Lite is just a remote play device, we believe there's more to it. It could be a cloud-based handheld PlayStation; a re-imagined portable PlayStation made for the cloud gaming market.

The Q Lite and PlayStation Plus cloud-streaming has the potential to do what Google Stadia tried to achieve. With PlayStation's large library of games and Sony's more than 20-year experience in the gaming market, it could be the one to succeed at what Stadia failed at.

Cloud Gaming Could Be the Next Generation of Portable PlayStations

If we’re just getting a PS Remote Play device, that’s cool. Not as cool as the PSP or PS Vita, though. However, even if the Q Lite is only for Remote Play, Sony could easily make cloud gaming available for it through a PlayStation Plus subscription; making it viable as a standalone product, not just a PS5 accessory.

We hope Sony doesn’t disappoint and creates a product that could give the cloud gaming market the boost it needs.