Should Xbox and PlayStation make a handheld console? | Opinion

gamesindustry.biz:

As the ninth generation enters mid-life, the rumour mill has started again on what new console hardware will look like. If there is one thing the video game industry does very well, that is jumping on trends, especially if plenty of money could be made. This time it’s all about gaming mobility. Reports have come out that both Microsoft and Sony are courting console handhelds as the next best thing. The logic being that the Nintendo’s Switch is one of its best-selling consoles of all time, Valve has seen success with Steam Deck and Sony has seen its mobile streaming peripheral, the PlayStation Portal, fly off shelves. So why not have a dedicated PS5 console handheld or a dedicated Xbox handheld? It makes perfect sense to the c-suits, who bury themselves in spreadsheets.

In an interview with Polygon, Phil Spencer stated: "I like the fact that Valve, Lenovo, and Asus went out and innovated in a new form factor." And then added: "I will say that when I'm playing on those devices, it almost feels more like a console than a PC - nine times out of 10… I want to be able to log in with a controller. I've got my list of things we should go do." Not to be outdone, Bloomberg reported that Sony is also working on a new handheld, according to a source.

If console handhelds are the stop gap to the tenth-generation console (or even a possible contender to be the tenth generation) here lies both opportunities and challenges in almost equal measure.

The Opportunities:

a) Consumer behaviour. Back in 2017 when the Switch released Nintendo declared a greater number of gamers preferred to play on it as a dedicated undocked device. It is probably safe to say that over time those who preferred to play on the system as a dedicated docked device probably did not increase in percentage terms, in fact, if anything it may have decreased. As a result, the market for a handheld console is potentially strong. This is something that will appeal greatly with Microsoft Gaming's leader Phil Spencer who is