Would you be interested in another portable PlayStation? What would you want it to be?

[nominedomine]

Sony seems to have completely given up on it after the Vita and they probably have their hand's full with PSVR2. With that said, looking at the Steam Deck and the restructure of PS+ I feel like this would be the perfect time for them to try it again.

My take on it:

My proposed solution, would be for them to make a portable that was able to run base PS4 games as well as PS1/PS2/PSP of course, that way it will have a huge library out of the door, they'll have even more incentive to improve their retro catalogue and won't have to split their development resources. As a reference the Steam Deck seems to already be reasonably more powerful that a base PS4 for $399 (and a something like what I'm proposing would already require half the RAM).

This would also be a good opportunity for them to invest on more games that don't rely so much on production value (AA and indies) and make them available on PS4/PS5 and on this new device, maybe get some simple remasters for games stuck on PS3 and so on. I'm missing that feeling we had on the PS3/Vita days where Sony was making and publishing games like Journey, Sound Shapes, Wipeout, etc, not everything needs to be AAA (and I think they have those covered).

Important: No proprietary memory cards, R2/L2 buttons.

 

[Darth Vader]

I would love the following

• Able to run back catalog from PS1 until now
• 256GB SSD for fast load and enough space for a few games
• Expandable storage
• Create a dedicated team in each of their big boy studios for Portable experiences (that could be released at a lower price point, like 50 quid, and work on the PS5 too)

 

[nominedomine]

I would love the following

• Able to run back catalog from PS1 until now
• 256GB SSD for fast load and enough space for a few games
• Expandable storage
• Create a dedicated team in each of their big boy studios for Portable experiences (that could be released at a lower price point, like 50 quid, and work on the PS5 too)

For PS4 games even a MicroSD card would likely do it and as seen on the PS5 most games won't significantly from faster storage without being patched to take advantage of it. To make this work Sony and reach a reasonable price like $299 Sony would need to cut some corners, storage would be an easy choice here.

Dedicating development teams would probably recreate similar problems like the ones they had with the Vita. Is Valve dedicating development for the Steam Deck? What are the third party titles that are actually having success on the Switch? I feel like with the exception of Monster Hunter, it's mostly indie games that were not even made thinking of a portable. But like you said working on games that would be available on PS4/PS5 as well, would work.

 

[Bryank75]

If it played PS4 games at 720p+.... hell yes, day 1.

Sleek thin-ish design, screen at least as big as Switch OLED.
Replaceable controllers....so if they break or wear you dont have to throw it away.

 

[mansoor1980]

it will only succeed if it gets MONSTER HUNTER as exclusive

 

[nominedomine]

If it played PS4 games at 720p+.... hell yes, day 1.

Sleek thin-ish design, screen at least as big as Switch OLED.
Replaceable controllers....so if they break or wear you dont have to throw it away.

Same resolution of the base PS4 (usually 1080p), it would be too much trouble for them to patch every game, would defeat the purpose and we already know Sony and other devs are terrible with patching games, as they have shown with the PS4 Pro and PS5.

it will only succeed if it gets MONSTER HUNTER as exclusive

Not happening and no need for that, you have the thinking of 10 years ago. It would already have Monster Hunter World and the inevitable port of Monster Hunter Rise, etc. This wouldn't need to sell like Nintendo portables or PSP, think of the Steam Deck as a reference or the PSVR, it would be something that Sony would do on the side to get people access to their PlayStation library on the go.

If the Xbox is able to keep going selling 50m console while requiring a lot more investment why can't a Portable portable be sustainable selling 20~25m while demanding very little dedicated development effort?

 

[Darth Vader]

For PS4 games even a MicroSD card would likely do it and as seen on the PS5 most games won't significantly from faster storage without being patched to take advantage of it. To make this work Sony and reach a reasonable price like $299 Sony would need to cut some corners, storage would be an easy choice here.

I don't think storage is the place where you cost cut.

The most expensive component would be the APU - not sure if they could emulate a jaguar on a 4 or 6 core modern AMD APU, but if they can't, the APU itself would set you off $100 or so, minimum, depending on yields. They can also go with older AMD tech for affordability, like Zen 1+ or Zen 2. But let's say $100.

Then you have your RAM. They'd only need 8GB, and this would not set you back more than $15.

You add you your SSD and that's, at most, $25 for 500GB.

Plus the carcass, screen, etc, depending on the tech, they can make it for ~$200. The screen, depending on tech and size, should not set them back more than $70.

But the cost driver is the APU, not the memory. I'd see them cutting costs on ports faster than memory

 

[ksdixon]

I dont want it to have its own games library like Vita. Everyone always said there was a difference between portable style games and console games. I always thought that was rubbish and was just an expectation from ds vs wii libraries, or phone games being lesser than console games. Meanwhile I had an old hacked PSP2000 and I was happily playing PS1 games on it most of the time.

For me the reason for wanting a PSP4 (I count PSP, PSP GO, PS VITA), it's all about extending your console's games portability. Its not my fault I have to take this train ride, or whatever, I want to be playing my games like normal with my savedata intact. Some times im not traveling, but id like to not have to stop, and play PS in bed/bath/toilet. And I dont neccessarrilly want to be Remote Playing from my phone. It needs its battery for real life crap.

PSP 4 = PS4 Portable.
Make it happen.

 

[BigMclargeHuge]

Depends on the games they would release on it. If it's unique and interesting stuff I couldn't get elsewhere, I'd definitely consider it. I bought a pstv just so I could play persona 4 golden years before they announced ports.

 

[Yurinka]

I think that if it ever exist, it should be a portable that wouldn't need games to be developed specifically to it and where you'd be able to play your games you already bought in PS4, PC and Android via deals with Steam, Epic Store and Google plus to keep it open for emulators (like Steam Deck) and for gamedevs to test their stuff there (as happens with Xbox).

Devs already have too much console skus in the market. Even for the Sony ones with PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, PSVR2 and now (with separate dedicated teams) PC ports and in the future mobile games. I think it wouldn't make sense to add a new one. But if with no efforts you can play there at least most of your PS4/PS4 Pro/PC/Android catalog (+ cloud platforms) at no extra cost it would be a big win.

Devs also don't like to develop games for platforms with a too small userbase, so making it PS4 and PC compatible would skyrocket developer support. Nobody would develop for another Vita specially if there's Switch and Steam Deck in the market, but if their PS4, PS5, SteamDeck, PC or mobile games are compatible with this device without any effort they'd do it.

If Sony doesn't do this the console wouldn't get enough support and would fail like Vita. And well, Sony has to keep their main teams focused on making new games for PS4/PS5. If without doing anything these games are compatible with the portable perfect, if not I don't see the portable happening.

And well, if they do it please Sony also include there (and in PS4+PS5) a fully working PSP and PS Vita TV emulator that supports all their digital games including the PS1 games they had and allow me to play them here at no extra cost.

 

[Kokoloko]

Yes Day 1.

Like you said, better memory card situtation, L2/R2 would help alot.
Basically console games can be on handheld since L2/R2 buttons on switch lol. So no need for dedicated handheld games which was one of the main reasnons Vita died. No games.

Now you can just play downscaled console and PC games on handheld like Switch/Steam deck.

I think give it another year or 2 and they could probably play PS5 games at 720p/ 30fps. We got Witcher 3 and others on the Switch, so why not.

Have PS1/PS2/PSP/ games that are on the PS3/Vita stores - Plus PS3/Vita/PS4 games and thats a huge librayr to start off with.

With some ports of “next gen games” because Steam, Switch 2, Steamdeck 2 will be playing future 3rd party games for sure.

 

[ethomaz]

Not sure if it is the best approach.

Sony can probably invest in Mobile with a PlayStation platform or just stream games to Mobile.

Make sure their accessories are fully compatibles to use in Mobile and create some others specifically for people that plays Mobile.

Now if they go with the new portable hardware Sony should invest in unique games for it and try to gather most 3rd-parties.

No console port… a portable needs unique games that take advantage of it own unique feature.

 

[Kokoloko]

Now if they go with the new portable hardware Sony should invest in unique games for it and try to gather most 3rd-parties.

No console port… a portable needs unique games that take advantage of it own unique feature.

This is one of the reasons Vita died, not enough resources and teams willing to do this. And Sony will have to split its teams up again. No Thanks.

Having consoles and portables do the same games is one of the reasons Switch is doing so well. With tech now days,Switch/Steamdeck, theres no reason to have a portable game that could of probably been a console game downscaled.

Some unique games and 3rd party games would be great but Let it have the library of the real games

 

[ethomaz]

This is one of the reasons Vita died, not enough resources and teams willing to do this. And Sony will have to split its teams up again. No Thanks.

Having consoles and portables do the same games is one of the reasons Switch is doing so well. With tech now days,Switch/Steamdeck, theres no reason to have a portable game that could of probably been a console game downscaled.

Some unique games and 3rd party games would be great but Let it have the library of the real games

Switch is the opposite of what you described.
It is a hardware with a lot of unique games specifically for Switch.

Exactly what Vira lacked and so failed.

Console to Switch ports are mostly bad and don’t find success there… what make it successful are the Nintendo unique games for it.

Or you invest in the platform like Nintendo or don’t launch a portable anymore.

 

[nominedomine]

Yes Day 1.

Like you said, better memory card situtation, L2/R2 would help alot.
Basically console games can be on handheld since L2/R2 buttons on switch lol. So no need for dedicated handheld games which was one of the main reasnons Vita died. No games.

Now you can just play downscaled console and PC games on handheld like Switch/Steam deck.

I think give it another year or 2 and they could probably play PS5 games at 720p/ 30fps. We got Witcher 3 and others on the Switch, so why not.

Have PS1/PS2/PSP/ games that are on the PS3/Vita stores - Plus PS3/Vita/PS4 games and thats a huge librayr to start off with.

With some ports of “next gen games” because Steam, Switch 2, Steamdeck 2 will be playing future 3rd party games for sure.

No, not like that, that would be a huge mistake. What a nightmare that would be, it would be like the Series S but much worse and also not done since the start.

Forget about PS5 games, at most depending on how the hardware is made to run PS4 games you could have a native mode that allowed devs to fully utilize the device but then you start to demand development time from devs and you get yourself in a Vita situation.

 

[Themaskedcrag]

As much as I would love a Vita2 or PSPX or whatever they want to call it, I think it's too late for them to reenter the market now, as they already have a secondary focus with PSVR, and to support another platform would spread support for the others too thinly. It's alright saying it would run PS5 games, but even porting costs development time and manpower. A device that just plays streaming games would not interest me.

 

[ethomaz]

As much as I would love a Vita2 or PSPX or whatever they want to call it, I think it's too late for them to reenter the market now, as they already have a secondary focus with PSVR, and to support another platform would spread support for the others too thinly. It's alright saying it would run PS5 games, but even porting costs development time and manpower. A device that just plays streaming games would not interest me.

Streaming should be available to all iOS and Android devices… all PlayStation games without any addictional dev effort.

 

[Darth Vader]

Devs already have too much console skus in the market. Even for the Sony ones with PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, PSVR2 and now (with separate dedicated teams) PC ports and in the future mobile games. I think it wouldn't make sense to add a new one. But if with no efforts you can play there at least most of your PS4/PS4 Pro/PC/Android catalog (+ cloud platforms) at no extra cost it would be a big win.

Were you away in the early 90s? Let's look at consoles / skus in the market in 1994

• Genesis
• 32x
• Sega CD
• Saturn
• SNES
• Playstation

This is not an exhaustive list, there were more, but those were the more popular ones.

Right now you have the Playstation consoles, both of which are X86, the Xbox consoles, which also are X86, and the Switch, which is ARM. That's it, all else is pretty much irrelevant.

 

[Yurinka]

Were you away in the early 90s? Let's look at consoles / skus in the market in 1994

• Genesis
• 32x
• Sega CD
• Saturn
• SNES
• Playstation

This is not an exhaustive list, there were more, but those were the more popular ones.

Right now you have the Playstation consoles, both of which are X86, the Xbox consoles, which also are X86, and the Switch, which is ARM. That's it, all else is pretty much irrelevant.

I've been around since the 8 bit computers age, before the NES.

Back then in the 16 bits age to make a multiplatform game meant to release it on SNES and MD only, and in many cases not at the same time. In a few rare cases, some time later some of them released a different version/enhaced port for 32X or Sega CD, or PlayStation. Some rare games got also a TurboGrafx/PC Engine release. Many games were also exclusive, it wasn't as common as now to get games multipatform because to develop multiplatform games is way easier now.

The next generation the average "multiplatform" game was released in both PSX and Saturn, and in most cases not at the same time. In a few cases some games got also released on more rare consoles like 3DO, CDi, Jaguar or Amiga CD32 (frequently only on one or two of them, not all) but often some time after its original release.

Back then in the 16 and 32 bit generations most multiplatform games were only released for 2 -very different- console skus and it was also way less frequent than now to release a PC version of multiplatform games. Right now you say "PS" but a dev has to optimize for PS4, PS4 Pro and PS5 and also to verify it doesn't have specific bugs in some skus as in rare cases happened in Slims or special editions of games (like the MGS one) because even if they are supposed to have almost the same and compatible hardware it isn't really the case and for some rare case they generate unique bugs. Same goes with "Xbox": XBO, XBOS, XBX, XSS, XSX. Same goes with Switch and all its variants plus game modes with the controller connected in all the different combinations and also playing on tv or handheld more. Plus also in many cases PC with a ton of different combinations and driver/OS related issues.

Right now there are a ton of SKUs even for exclusive games. In the 16 and 32 bit age they made most mutiplatform games for a couple of skus and that's all.

 

[Kokoloko]

No, not like that, that would be a huge mistake. What a nightmare that would be, it would be like the Series S but much worse and also not done since the start.

Forget about PS5 games, at most depending on how the hardware is made to run PS4 games you could have a native mode that allowed devs to fully utilize the device but then you start to demand development time from devs and you get yourself in a Vita situation.

I think they can spend small amounts on people downscaling it but I dont know much. It will be cheaper than making exclusive portable games for sure.

Most games on PC are able to play on machines weaker than PS4 and more powerful than PS5 so maybe just 3rd party stuff like how Witcher and Doom
are on Switch/Steamdeck.

Not much of a Series S type of thing, but once the game is done PS5, a small team can downscale stuff. From 4K to 720p. And much less effects etc. No ray tracing. 60fps to 30fps etc

If not just play PS1-PS4 games on PSP3 and the latest 3rd party stuff because they will be utilized to play on weaker PC’s anyway. Lets forget 1st party PS5 exclusives for now lol