Sony plans to continue producing dedicated game consoles, with PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino reaffirming the company's commitment in a June 2026 interview. "My belief that a console is necessary for playing games hasn’t changed. Sony wants to continue providing its own game consoles," Nishino said [1].
Nishino also gave a strong hint that the PlayStation 6 (PS6) will launch in two forms: a traditional TV-based console and a portable handheld device. This signals a shift toward expanding PlayStation gaming beyond the living room. "Developing new game console experiences will involve leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations," he added [1, 2, 3].
Sony has recently been developing products to support more mobile gaming. In November 2025, it launched the PlayStation Portal, a handheld companion device for the PS5 that supports cloud streaming so users can play without the console present [1]. Use of the Portal's cloud streaming grew 1.5 times in January 2026 compared to December 2025, showing rising interest in portable PlayStation experiences [1].
In addition to portable consoles, Sony plans to release PlayStation-branded monitors and portable Pulse speakers to allow for comfortable play outside the traditional living room setting. Nishino said, "Although the PlayStation brand is strongly associated with playing on the TV in the living room, we’re planning to release monitors and speakers so that people can play comfortably in other locations as well" [1, 2, 3].
Sony also recently added a low power mode feature to the PS5, which some speculate could be a test for lower-spec hardware targeted at the upcoming handheld devices, though this remains unconfirmed [2, 3].
However, memory supply issues currently facing Sony could impact the production plans of next-generation hardware, but the exact effect on the PS6 launch is unclear [3].
Sony first confirmed in 2024 that dedicated consoles remain essential to its gaming strategy [1]. The official launch of the PlayStation Portal handheld and cloud streaming in November 2025, followed by the growing user base in early 2026, sets the stage for the PS6's dual form approach hinted at by Nishino this month [1].
