Last night's PlayStation Showcase, the first in some 600 days, paused for breath near the end of the more-than-hour-long presentation as Jim Ryan revealed new PlayStation hardware. Before we saw an extended trailer for Insomniac's forthcoming Spider-Man 2, the PlayStation chief pulled the wraps off its new handheld: Project Q.
The handheld device looks like an 8-inch screen sandwiched between a DualSense and is intended to allow owners to play their PS5-installed games portably using the device via Wi-Fi. The handheld has drawn mixed reaction but we might've learned when we can expect Project Q to be available. Industry insider Tom Henderson reports that Project Q is "currently scheduled to release mid-late November 2023." Henderson has form in these predictions since it was he who first broke the news that PlayStation has a handheld in the works; also detailing its rough specs before Sony decided to make it official last night.
The handheld is only known as Project Q for now, although it might get a catchier name closer to launch. The device is said to have an 8-inch LCD screen capable of 1080p resolution at 60fps. It'll stream games installed on your PS5 via Remote Play, allowing owners to play their PS5 games away from their TV as long as they have a good Wi-Fi connection. The handheld also has all the buttons and features of the DualSense, such as the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, that PS5 owners have come to expect.
As the cover image shows, new PlayStation branded hardware wasn't confined to the Project Q handheld as Sony also showed off new earbuds. These wireless earbuds come in a PlayStation branded case and clearly takes its design cues from the PS5. Apparently, these earbuds will feature "new wireless technology developed by SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment]" and will be capable of delivering lossless audio with low latency, according to Sony (via The Verge). The earbuds can be used with the PS5, the Project Q, and PC. It's not clear as of yet if the earbuds can be used with other devices, such as smartphones, as Sony has only specified those platforms.
While new PlayStation hardware is often an interesting proposition, it's unclear just how much interest the Project Q will garner. Although handhelds have seen a revival with the popularity of the Nintendo Switch and more recently the Steam Deck, and rivals such as the Asus ROG Ally, the Project Q itself is not a fully fledged handheld but more a bespoke streaming device. But we'll be learning more about the Project Q in the months to come.