PlayStation announces new handheld Project Q, but there's a catch
Sony has announced a new PlayStation handheld device, codenamed Project Q.
A first look at the portable was shown during this week's PlayStation Showcase, with an 8-inch LCD screen between two halves of, essentially, a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller minus the touchpad.
One important thing to note is that Project Q is a streaming-only device. It uses Remote Play to stream games installed on your PS5 over Wi-Fi.
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PlayStation's Jim Ryan said that the handheld will launch "later this year", and comes with "all of the buttons and features of the DualSense wireless controller".
Those features include adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, while the screen itself can play games at 1080p and 60fps.
"Innovation is our passion, and that applies to not just what games you play but how you play them," Ryan added.
Project Q isn't compatible with PSVR or PSVR2 games.
During the same showcase, PlayStation's first official wireless earbuds were unveiled, which "will bring next-generation audio immersion to PS5 and PC". Ryan said that the earbuds will deliver lossless audio with low latency, and can also connect to smartphones via Bluetooth.
The last PlayStation handheld was the PlayStation Vita, which struggled commercially amid the Nintendo 3DS's huge popularity.
Naturally, Project Q has drawn comparisons to the Nintendo Switch – which currently dominates portable gaming alongside mobile – and the Steam Deck. But this isn't a successor to the Vita.
Unlike the Switch and Steam Deck, PlayStation's newest handheld is not a standalone platform, requiring you to own a PS5.
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Elsewhere, PlayStation shared new footage of upcoming PS5 game Spider-Man 2, with villain Kraven the Hunter unveiled. Also featured in the showcase were Peter Parker's symbiote powers and a playable Miles Morales.
We're still waiting on a final release date, but the anticipated sequel is expected to launch sometime in the autumn this year.
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