I don't put much stock in gaming "insiders" on Twitter. For the most part, it feels like they just make sweeping, educated guesses that anyone who keeps up with the news could make. So when I heard the rumors circulating about a Sony handheld device that would be revealed at the PlayStation Showcase, I was very skeptical.
As it turns out, those analysts didn't exactly have it right either. Yes, Project Q was shown off during the PlayStation Showcase and yes, it's a gaming device you hold in your hands. But in terms of what we'd call a handheld gaming device today, I'm not sure it really qualifies.
Project Q, as far as we know, only works with a PS5 tethered over wifi, so it isn't exactly something you can truly take on the go and use as a PlayStation-Switch if Remote Play has to be involved. Remote Play is PlayStation's answer to GamePass, and requires a PS5 console to be either switched on or in standby mode, allowing you to stream PS5 games to your phone and play with one of the best mobile controllers.
Project Q looks like it will only play games that have been downloaded and installed on a PS5 too, so it's not exactly a substitute for buying a home console like the Steam Deck is. The appeal of portable gaming PCs like a Deck or an ASUS ROG Ally is that you can take one on the go or dock it with a Steam Deck dock to play at home. It doesn't require you to have a gaming PC already that you're tied to. So where does Project Q fit into the market then? I'd say it's Sony's foray into the mobile gaming market, but the Backbone One PlayStation Editions already exist.
Perhaps more importantly, who is this device for? As funny as the emerging memes are, the closest comparison to Project Q might genuinely be a Wii-U, which feels like a major step backward. For folks who just want an extra screen to play on while someone's using the TV, I can understand the appeal, but there must be an easier way of going about it that doesn't warrant the high price this thing will no doubt have.
