Sony is planning a new PlayStation handheld, it’s claimed

Sony is developing a new portable console capable of playing PlayStation 5 games, it’s claimed.

According to Bloomberg, Sony Interactive Entertainment is in the “early stages” of developing the device, which is still years away from a potential release.

“The product is aimed at expanding Sony’s reach and contending with Nintendo for the portable gaming market, according to people familiar with its development,” Bloomberg wrote.

The concept could build on the recently launched PlayStation Portal, which is a portable console capable of streaming PS5 games via the cloud, but cannot natively play titles.

Any such PlayStation portable launch could also compete with Nintendo’s upcoming Switch successor, and plans from Microsoft to potentially launch a similar Xbox device.

Earlier this month, Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed that Microsoft is working on handheld gaming prototypes, but claimed that any potential device is still years away.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer said Microsoft is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, and he’s asked his hardware team to analyse the market and “develop its vision based on what it learns”. Any device is a few years out, he said.

In the near term, Xbox will focus on making its app work better on existing portable devices, and partnering with hardware manufacturers to make sure their products sync, he added.