One Franchise Would Be Clear Winner of Next Gen Handheld Console Wars

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 8, 2024 13 Views 6 Min Read
One Franchise Would Be Clear Winner of Next Gen Handheld Console Wars



Out of all the major console manufacturers in gaming history, Microsoft is the only one that has yet to release a handheld. Nintendo, Sony, Sega, and even Atari have made portable systems over the years, but Xbox has never launched a handheld of its own. This may not be the case for long, however. In the last 12 or so months, several trustworthy insiders have alleged that Microsoft is developing a portable Xbox console of some kind. While some had a hard time believing these rumors, they were effectively confirmed by none other than Xbox CEO Phil Spencer himself last November. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer revealed that Microsoft was indeed creating prototypes for a handheld gaming device, one that’s apparently still years away from being released.




It seems like Xbox isn’t alone in its desire to make a handheld console, as it turns out Sony is reportedly making one, as well. Recent reports from both Bloomberg and Tom Henderson have claimed that the Japanese conglomerate is “in the early stages of developing” a native, portable PlayStation device. Unlike Sony’s previous efforts in the handheld field, like the PS Vita and the PSP, this new system is apparently going to be a portable version of the PS5 rather than an entirely standalone console with its own separate library of games. This PlayStation handheld, if it ever comes out, will have to compete directly with the upcoming Xbox handheld and the Nintendo Switch 2. This increase in competition will likely be great for both consumers and developers, and it will especially benefit one long-running franchise: Grand Theft Auto.

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Grand Theft Auto Would Benefit Greatly From the PlayStation and Xbox Handhelds


Sony and Microsoft’s Rumored Handhelds Would Give Players a Way to Play GTA 6 On the Go

Although Grand Theft Auto has had a presence on handheld devices in the past, almost all of the mainline 3D entries in the series have been released exclusively on home consoles upon their initial launches. The franchise’s next numbered installment, the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, seems to continue this trend. GTA 6, as many may know by now, has currently only been announced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. In other words, it is not coming to PC (and, in turn, PC handhelds like the Steam Deck) day one, nor is it launching on the Nintendo Switch. Because of this, it will be impossible to play GTA 6 natively on the go when it is released.

This is where Sony and Microsoft come in. If the rumored PlayStation and Xbox handhelds are released before Grand Theft Auto 6 comes to PC, then they will give players the chance to experience the upcoming game on a portable device for the first time. The prospect of playing GTA 6 on the go would likely be enough to convince many people to buy these systems. There is, however, one issue with this matter. Sony and Microsoft’s portable consoles are apparently very early in development, so if they do come out, they will probably be launched several years after GTA 6‘s release, at which point the game will likely be on Steam.


The Best Place to Play GTA 6 Portably May Be On Consoles

Even if these handhelds are still far away from being released, they may still provide the best place to play GTA 6 natively, at least when it comes to portable devices. In fact, the previous entry in the series, GTA 5, is somewhat compromised on PC handhelds like the Steam Deck. In September 2024, GTA 5 lost its Steam Deck verification due to a new anti-cheat software that was introduced to the game’s multiplayer component, GTA Online. While the single-player campaign for GTA 5 is still playable on the Steam Deck, its live service counterpart is sadly unsupported on the system.

Rockstar Games, the developer of the GTA series, tends to prioritize consoles over PCs with most of its games. Therefore, it’s possible that when GTA 6 eventually comes to PC, it may not be supported on the Steam Deck and other PC handhelds, just like GTA 5. Microsoft and Sony’s handhelds, in comparison, may provide a more reliable experience with the game since they’ll presumably be single-skew consoles.

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