Sony's Latest Handheld Console: Project Q — A Comprehensive Overview
Sony is set to make a comeback in the handheld gaming console market with Project Q, an 8-inch device specifically designed for streaming PS5 games.
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This comes four years after discontinuing their last handheld console. The announcement of this new console took place during Sony's PlayStation Showcase on May 24, and here's what we know about it so far.
Project Q: Expected Price and Release Date Sony has confirmed that Project Q will be released later this year, but an exact release date has not been provided. The console's price is also yet to be announced. It is anticipated that Sony will aim to launch it before Black Friday in November, making it a sought-after holiday season gift. Let's hope Sony can avoid the stock shortages experienced with the PS5.
In terms of pricing, considering the Nintendo Switch is priced at $349 and both the Steam Deck and PS5 cost $499, we can expect Sony's new handheld to fall somewhere in between.
Project Q: Specifications During the PlayStation Showcase, Jim Ryan, the head of PlayStation, revealed that the device will feature an 8-inch HD screen and its buttons and features will mirror those of the DualSense wireless controller. While the screen is an inch larger than that of the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch, it would be ideal for Sony to incorporate an OLED display into their handheld.
According to a tweet by Geoff Keighley, the host and creator of The Game Awards, the screen is likely to have a 1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate. Although the best phones typically target higher resolutions, aiming for Full HD on an 8-inch screen should be sufficient and require less bandwidth for streaming graphics to Project Q.
While Sony's announcement confirmed some earlier rumors about the handheld device, there is limited information available at this time. There have been rumors circulating about the battery life, suggesting it may last only three to four hours. Hopefully, either this rumor is inaccurate, or the price of the console reflects its limited battery capacity, considering it may only last as long as an NFL game.
Project Q: Features and Competition Project Q will allow users to stream games from their PS5 consoles to the handheld device using Remote Play over Wi-Fi. This means players will need to own a PS5 console and the corresponding games to enjoy them on the go. It is not a revival of the PS Vita.
While this cloud-based gameplay feature will help Sony compete with the Xbox Series X, which already offers cloud gaming, it's worth noting that Project Q won't support streaming VR games. Therefore, owners of the upcoming PSVR 2 may face limitations in this regard.
The availability of its own dedicated handheld console for playing PS5 games on the go gives Sony a unique selling point over Microsoft, which relies on third-party devices such as the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. However, since Project Q requires streaming games from the user's own PS5 console to the cloud and back to the handheld, it may encounter more buffering issues compared to games streamed directly from cloud servers.
Moreover, considering that Remote Play is already available for streaming games to other handheld devices, Sony will need to make a compelling case for Project Q as a superior alternative to using, for instance, an iPad paired with a DualSense controller.
We will continue to update this story as more details emerge about Sony's new device, assessing whether it deserves recognition among the best handheld gaming consoles.
