According to Microsoft, Sony's upcoming handheld device, known as Project Q, is expected to be priced below $300. This information was disclosed in a filing submitted to the FTC, who is currently investigating Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision-Blizzard.
Speculations about a new Sony handheld had been circulating for some time, and these rumors were confirmed during last month's PlayStation Showcase, where Project Q was officially introduced. While Sony achieved some success with the PSP, they were unable to replicate the same level of success with the PS Vita. However, Project Q sets itself apart from its predecessors by not having dedicated games specifically for it. Instead, it will allow users to stream PS5 games remotely.
Many players still have a sentimental attachment to the Sony PSP and PS Vita, despite them not reaching the same level of success as Nintendo's handhelds. Because of this, fans were already disappointed when they learned that Project Q would be a game streaming device instead of a standalone handheld with its own unique features and games. This disappointment was further intensified when a report revealed that Project Q may have been in development since 2015, but ultimately only became a streaming device after 8 years.
Additionally, there are concerns among players that Sony may have rushed the development of Project Q in response to the releases of Valve's Steam Deck, Asus's ROG Ally, and Logitech's G Cloud. However, it should be noted that Project Q does not pose a significant competition to these consoles due to its limited game library. Furthermore, there is a rumor circulating that Project Q may only have a battery life of 3-4 hours, which, if true, could have a detrimental impact on Sony's new handheld. While this rumor is currently unsubstantiated, it remains a point of concern. Sony is expected to launch Project Q in November 2023 and will provide more information about it in the coming months.
