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Could a PS4 portable be Sony answer to Nintendo?Can it be done?
- Thread starter HighFive
- Start date
I don't think it can be done but at the same time I don't think Sony needs to "answer" to anyone when they're currently leading.
This has been my idea for some time: A PS4 tablet.
Imagine a PS4 shrunk down to a tablet sized device with a beautiful 1080p screen. A bit thicker and heavier than a normal tablet, but no disc drive, and no on-board controls. You would sync a Dualshock controller with it (or many) to play it, and it would have HDMI out to connect with an external display if you prefer that at times.
The beauty would be that it is a PS4, so it would already have a full library of PS4 titles, without the usual compromises you make to have it be portable. Oh and this means it would be able to power PSVR too :-)
I don't know if they have any motivation to make this, but given enough time, it should be completely possible.
Imagine a PS4 shrunk down to a tablet sized device with a beautiful 1080p screen. A bit thicker and heavier than a normal tablet, but no disc drive, and no on-board controls. You would sync a Dualshock controller with it (or many) to play it, and it would have HDMI out to connect with an external display if you prefer that at times.
The beauty would be that it is a PS4, so it would already have a full library of PS4 titles, without the usual compromises you make to have it be portable. Oh and this means it would be able to power PSVR too :-)
I don't know if they have any motivation to make this, but given enough time, it should be completely possible.
Sony has to answer a ton of questions to hardcore gamers first, like why PSN's infrastructure is still shit while we're paying (slow download speeds, no changing names...), what are they plans for BC going forward (I won't buy more Sony consoles without a good effort in this department) or why users with PS4 Pro and a 1080p panel still get the middle finger for no reason at all (arbitrarily locking us out of downsampling) in some releases while it works automatically in its rival.
They should be more concerned about losing these type of gamers than in "answering" a segment which Nintendo fully occupies now and in which they've failed miserably with the Vita.
They should be more concerned about losing these type of gamers than in "answering" a segment which Nintendo fully occupies now and in which they've failed miserably with the Vita.
I don't think Sony could answer to the Switch even if they wanted. The Switch is a great device but it wouldn't be as popular if it wasn't for Nintendos exclusive high quality content.
You need to buy a Switch to play Mario Odyssey or all other upcoming Nintendo titles. Sony is already on their way to sell 100m PS4... How many players of that audience would buy such a device, when it doesn't play anything that their current PS4 consoles can't play.
Their market isn't big enough and they don't have the ressources to push another hardware between PS4, PSV and the PS5.
You need to buy a Switch to play Mario Odyssey or all other upcoming Nintendo titles. Sony is already on their way to sell 100m PS4... How many players of that audience would buy such a device, when it doesn't play anything that their current PS4 consoles can't play.
Their market isn't big enough and they don't have the ressources to push another hardware between PS4, PSV and the PS5.
There is almost zero chance of this. Some of you act like "switch like dual nature" is some last second feature they can add, like the 6axis or something. It would likely require them to completely redesign and rethink what the PS5 is going to be from the ground up. PS4 is on a record setting trajectory, likely to end up being their 2nd best selling console ever. There is a market for what Sony is selling without them having to do something so drastic.
The only people claiming that Sony needs an answer are the folks who like portability (switch owners). Sony is fine and should stick to what they do best.
It depends on what the PS5 turns out to be. If Sony don't pay attention to market trends and just do what THEY think is right (ie the PS3 approach), then it will bite them hard. Again.
They wouldn't be able to make it the sort of generational jump everyone's used to if they did. Well, at least if they wanted to keep the cost under $1000.
I expect the PS5 to be a more powerful version of the PS4 which would lead to a near 100% chance for success.
OP
OP
That is an unnecessary commentary (about Switch owners). In anycase from my experience Vita owners tend to be loudest when it comes to a Sony portable or Switch like device, Nintendo centric gamers are least interested in seeing another direct match up between Sony and Nintendo. As a Switch owner, I rather Sony do what they are doing and Nintendo do what they are doing so we all benefit, rather than being forced to buy multiuple devices that do the same thing just for exclusives.
If the Switch catches fire in Japan (looks like it is), yes they do. They are in a bad spot even as market leader if they can't provide an answer to Nintendo's increasing market share there. It doesn't matter how powerful the PS4 Pro is if the consumers are eating up Pokemon, Dragon Quest, and Monster Hunter. In the west, they have less to worry about as stationary consoles are the primary gaming systems.
Sony does not need an answer to Nintendo.
Sony needs to keep doing exactly what they are doing and they will be just fine.
Same with Microsoft. They have made the turn and need to stay the course.
Nintendo is not even a factor. (Before someone fills their diapers about this I mean that their sales right now do not affect Sony or Microsoft.
Like it or don't like it aside from Nintendo led games the system gets late hand me downs from the other two and there is no end to that in site.
This may be good enough for some gamers, but not all of them.
Sony needs to keep doing exactly what they are doing and they will be just fine.
Same with Microsoft. They have made the turn and need to stay the course.
Nintendo is not even a factor. (Before someone fills their diapers about this I mean that their sales right now do not affect Sony or Microsoft.
Like it or don't like it aside from Nintendo led games the system gets late hand me downs from the other two and there is no end to that in site.
This may be good enough for some gamers, but not all of them.
Switch has established that there is a market for hybrid systems. I don't believe PS4 and Switch are direct competitors like it is with the xbox. If Sony were able to come out with a PSP2, have a presence in the booming hybrid market, there is merit in that.
I don't see it being a PS4 portable. I'd see it more akin to their VR efforts. Affordable at $250-299 just to have a horse in the race. They could tout it as a 4k stream box in addition to a hybrid system.
I don't see it being a PS4 portable. I'd see it more akin to their VR efforts. Affordable at $250-299 just to have a horse in the race. They could tout it as a 4k stream box in addition to a hybrid system.
OP
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Having dual shock sync would be great, but i would want it to come somehow similar like the switch, with bigger joycons like dual shock split in half, smaller to fit the tablet. But i think a 1080p is asking a lot, but we can dream for sure!
Whatever hybrid they could come up with in ~2020 would either be weaker than the Pro or cost an outrageous amount.
With the upcoming die node shrink process its easy to do but I doubt it will be the size of the Switch. More likely it would be the size of an iPad. Also the battery would be mildly less convenient than what we already have now with the Switch.
With Samsung's foldable display tech such a larger device would be practical but expensive. Without it it could cost as much as a Switch but simply would be less comfortable to use as a handheld device and as a console device it most likely would be noticably weaker than the next gen version of the Switch.
It would be a worthwhile product to bring to the table. The negatives come down to a matter of taste.
With Samsung's foldable display tech such a larger device would be practical but expensive. Without it it could cost as much as a Switch but simply would be less comfortable to use as a handheld device and as a console device it most likely would be noticably weaker than the next gen version of the Switch.
It would be a worthwhile product to bring to the table. The negatives come down to a matter of taste.
Yeah, their answer would be to lower the PS4 price by 50$. Sell another 10 million consoles.
I own a vita (and not that shitty 2nd version either.)I got news for you:
While you can currently do that on the Vita, there are limitations that need to be addressed (Such as the fact that you need a ps4 to do this in the first place)
I mean, look at how big the guts of the current PS4 are. It's just not doable anytime soon! The power requirements are quite high, as well!
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Sony is doing well on its own, i give you that. Yes, they dont need to do it. But it will give them something else to show what playstation is capable of. If you would give me the option to give me the same console experience as a portable device, same controls, i do think i will play more with my portable PS4 than my home one. Its not necessary, but if it was an option, im not the only one who would like it.
I don't think it will happen Sony support for the Vita and the PSP were sub par in the long run. Unfortunate because there were brilliant games on both systems.
It wasn't a shot or anything I apologize if it came across like that, it's just that the people who are enjoying their switch are thinking about hypotheticals if Sony decided to do a similar system.
Its waste of resources for Sony to attempt this since their focus is on power for the most part. I'm truly against gimping a system for the sake of portability it works for Nintendo and kudos to them but Sony should stay away from it.
My cellphone contract has a 1GB bandwith limit. Yeah, i will tether it to stream PS4 games to it. And the experience on Doom would be worse than Doom SW
Sony doesn't need to do it but a non modular base PS4 could come in at $299. A lot of the Switch price it in the portabilityand not the tech (Joycons, dock, Grip)
Their remote play is fantastic for most game types. I would love a cheap handheld screen with all the buttons (bumpers and triggers) that just does remote play.
There's too many factors that make a PlayStation portable console risky for Sony. I'm sure they would love to create a PSP2 for the masses but it isn't feasible right now. Also you forget one thing, The Switch was created in mind for Nintendo to release one game that could be played in many forms, a PlayStation portable would defeat that.
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Dont understand why people always have to be dicks to a whole fanbase just because they dont appreciate a Topic or a comment of a singe user.
Of course it can. Its mostly derived from mobile technology in the first place.
Just.... Not anytime too soon. A few imminent events are probably going to take place first, A few die shrinks, mobile low power ram improvements, improvements in battery technology.... the rise of the American proletariat...
Just.... Not anytime too soon. A few imminent events are probably going to take place first, A few die shrinks, mobile low power ram improvements, improvements in battery technology.... the rise of the American proletariat...
No problem. I didn't think you intended it in that way after rereading it a few more times. I agree with you that it is a waste of resources to chase after the Switch market.
Switch if anything will solidify consoles position for the next generation or more, so it is a win-win for everyone. 3rd parties can have their AAA running on a tablet, and consoles will have high end games running on static pro/premium devices, so we're going into a PC-like range of options for consumers. That's good for everyone IMHO.
I have this setup with my PS4 and Xperia XZs.
It can do 1080p60 on my wireless and I've played reasonably from another country a few times.
However you do need a network connection for the PS4 streaming but I have retroarch and a bunch of games that work with the controller.
I might bring the switch with me but I vastly prefer the pro controller so I haven't really played much in handheld mode. I get severe RSI pains with the joy-cons.
It can do 1080p60 on my wireless and I've played reasonably from another country a few times.
However you do need a network connection for the PS4 streaming but I have retroarch and a bunch of games that work with the controller.
I might bring the switch with me but I vastly prefer the pro controller so I haven't really played much in handheld mode. I get severe RSI pains with the joy-cons.
It could be done, but I doubt it could be done without compromise, affordably and with decent battery life until 5nm with EUV in 2022+
IBM's 5nm chip could quadruple battery life
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...m-5nm-gaafet-transistor-faster-more-efficient
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52531.wss
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331850
IBM's 5nm chip could quadruple battery life
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...m-5nm-gaafet-transistor-faster-more-efficient
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52531.wss
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331850
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You wouldn't get the same experience. At least not realistically or reasonably when factoring in battery life, power consumption and cost. That's the point. There would have to be major compromises somewhere.
My dream of a PS Vita successor has been killed by this man's logical and reasonable explanations.
Vita is Life.