Handheld gaming is seeing something of a resurgence in the era of cloud gaming, but Sony has a different take on the mobile form factor. It has announced a new handheld gaming device as part of the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, but it's aimed squarely at PlayStation 5 owners. The "Project Q" handheld lets you stream any PS5 game via Wi-Fi using Remote Play. We still don't know much about the Q, including whether it does anything else.
The device looks like a giant 8-inch screen with Playstation controls tacked on like bat wings on either side. Sony says the Q will support all the same buttons and features as the DualSense controller, which is good for PlayStation games. Unlike Microsoft, which merely evolved its gamepad for the latest console generation, Sony went all out with variable force triggers, enhanced haptics, and controller audio effects. That'll all be available on the Q.
Sony says the Q will have a 1080p resolution, but the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Some PS5 games can run at higher frame rates, but that's one of the few experiences the Q will not replicate. You'll have to use the console and a TV with a variable refresh rate to get smooth 120fps gameplay in titles like Atomic Heart and God of War Ragnarok.
Sony's brief announcement seemed almost intentionally vague about the Q's capabilities. While Sony didn't mention a price, the DualSense hardware, a big HD screen, a battery, and some sort of internal chipset with powerful Wi-Fi could easily add up to a few hundred dollars. Is anyone going to spend that kind of money on a device that just streams games over local Wi-Fi? The Q will compete with cloud-first handhelds like the Razer Edge and small form factor PCs like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.
Currently, Remote Play requires games to be installed on your console, and it won't work outside the PS5's network. Cloud gaming, on the other hand, works everywhere. Sony has a cloud gaming service, but it's not as widely available as Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is included with Game Pass Ultimate. The Q seems like a perfect way for Sony to expand its cloud gaming service, but it wasn't mentioned.
We will hopefully hear more about the Q and what it can do as we get closer to release. Sony says the handheld will arrive later this year for an undisclosed price. Sony also plans to release PlayStation-branded earbuds around the same time. The company's 1000X headphones and earbuds are some of the best Bluetooth audio devices you can get, and the PS buds will probably be the same.
