Sony and Microsoft Could Be Teeing Up to Compete On a New Front

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 22, 2024 11 Views 6 Min Read
Sony and Microsoft Could Be Teeing Up to Compete On a New Front



The ninth console generation has been defined by a major shifting of paradigms, with both Xbox and PlayStation changing their strategies somewhat. For its part, Xbox has been leaning more multiplatform, seemingly moving away from the traditional exclusives-focused approach that has moved hardware in the past and investing more in cloud gaming endeavors designed to draw customers into its broader ecosystem. Sony is still ostensibly focused on hard-hitting exclusives, but bringing more games to PC indicates a looser commitment to proprietary devices as well.




Both goliaths are pushing into a new market, however: handhelds. This wouldn’t be the first time that Sony has dipped its toes in this pond, as the PSP and PS Vita were once key parts of its hardware lineup, but Xbox‘s desire to push out a portable console marks new territory for the company. As Sony continues to double-down on the PlayStation Portal with new features like game streaming without the need for a PS5 on-network, alongside reports of a standalone portable meant to be launched in the near future, it’s looking more and more like these companies will be entering a battle of the handhelds in the coming years.

PS6 controller with colorful background

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Sony and Microsoft Are Both Reportedly Developing Handheld Consoles


Xbox’s Handheld Is Confirmed, PlayStation’s Is Still Only Rumored

After months of speculation, Phil Spencer has finally confirmed that Xbox is working on a handheld console, though it is apparently still years away from release, suggesting that it will be part of the tenth-generation hardware rollout. How this dedicated portable would factor into Xbox’s broader cloud gaming push, where “everything is an Xbox,” is a bit unclear, but one would have to assume that there are some tantalizing features planned to make it worth the cost of admission.

PlayStation has been more tight-lipped about its handheld, but several credible reports lend credence to the possibility of a new PSP. Leaks and rumors aside, a dedicated handheld from Sony would certainly make sense, especially if the company hopes to stay relevant when it comes to hardware. The PlayStation Portal has garnered a lot of appreciation from consumers, but its limited scope and use case has made it better suited to Sony enthusiasts already entrenched in the PS5 ecosystem; a portable device with the capabilities of the Switch or Steam Deck would likely be far more appealing to a broader audience.


What Sony and Xbox Might Need To Compete With Their Handhelds

If the tenth console generation is truly fought on the grounds of portable devices, it will be fascinating to watch each manufacturer’s strategy. The Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go already provide incredible value when it comes to portable gaming, and while new handhelds from Xbox or Sony may get some traction from brand recognition and ecosystem alone, they will need to do a bit more to rise to the occasion. This is especially true if these devices are still years away from release, as the aforementioned competitors, not to mention the Switch 2, will likely only increase their appeal with hardware refreshes.

It might be tough for these upcoming handhelds to get purchase without a major value proposition. A lower price point coupled with impressive power could certainly help, but it will probably take more than just that to compete in an increasingly crowded hardware space. Perhaps exclusives will be what carries these portables: Sony and Microsoft could make certain games only playable on their handhelds, thus increasing their appeal at the risk of alienating consumers without an interest in such hardware. Both Xbox and Sony must be watching the handheld market closely, so only time will tell how they attempt to respond and disrupt this growing space.


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