Sony and Microsoft are reportedly working on handheld gaming systems, though early indications suggest the two companies are heading in different directions with their respective projects. According to industry sources and recent leaks, these future handhelds are not expected to compete directly with one another, as their target audiences and technical approaches appear to differ significantly.
Insider reports point to a potential collaboration between Microsoft and ASUS on a handheld device that shares some similarities with the ROG Ally. The rumored project is still in its early stages, but the partnership suggests a Windows-based handheld with Xbox integration could arrive sometime in 2025. While no official confirmation has been provided, industry watchers believe this device could focus on cloud gaming and compatibility with Xbox Game Pass, following Microsoft’s strategy of expanding its ecosystem across multiple form factors.
Meanwhile, Sony is said to be exploring a more traditional console-like PlayStation 6 Portable handheld. Information surfaced in March from leaker Kepler_L2, who has previously provided early details about AMD hardware. According to their posts, Sony is working closely with AMD on a custom chipset for what has been referred to as a “PS6 Portable.” The device, rumored to be based on a 15-watt system-on-chip (SoC) manufactured on a 3 nm process node, is expected to offer performance that sits between the Xbox Series S and the standard PlayStation 5.
Reports suggest that the handheld will be capable of running PlayStation 5-era games, albeit with reduced visual fidelity due to power and bandwidth limitations. Resolution and frame rates may be scaled back to accommodate the constraints of portable hardware. The GPU portion of the SoC is speculated to include fewer than 40 compute units—likely below 36, based on multiple media interpretations—placing it somewhere between Sony’s existing PS5 hardware and Microsoft’s smaller Series S.
Notably, this upcoming PlayStation 6 Portable handheld is not believed to share much in common architecturally with Sony’s next-generation home console, the PS6. While both may utilize AMD technology, the portable device appears to be purpose-built with mobile gaming in mind, rather than being a scaled-down version of the home console.
Sony’s rumored return to the handheld space is drawing interest from long-time fans of the PSP and PS Vita. Although both earlier devices built up dedicated fan bases, they struggled to maintain momentum against Nintendo’s handheld lineup. With more powerful mobile hardware and access to a robust library of PS5 titles, Sony’s new handheld could offer a more competitive experience in the portable gaming market.
As of now, neither Sony nor Microsoft has officially confirmed these developments. More concrete details are expected to emerge over the coming months, especially if launch windows in late 2025 or beyond are accurate.
Sources: GamingLeaksAndRumours Subreddit, Notebookcheck, Wccftech #1, Wccftech #2, HotHardware, Insider Gaming, Wired (archive image source)
