Sony unveils a new product to us: a “portable console” which is console only in name. Halfway between an accessory and a tablet with a controller, the mysterious Project Q was announced with drums and trumpets. Sony promises a world in which you can play your PS5 games anywhere, anytime… provided you have a good internet connection. Let’s take a step back and take a closer look at this newcomer to the gaming world.
Sony has officially confirmed that they are working on a “portable console» allowing you to play your PS5 games remotely. “Portable consoleis the term we’ve used before, but are we really looking at a new console or rather a nice marketing trick?
“We will be launching a dedicated device that will allow you to stream any game from your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi,” said PlayStation boss Jim Ryan during the PlayStation Showcase. “Known internally as ‘Project Q’, it comes equipped with an 8-inch HD display and all the controls and features of the DualSense wireless controller.“. To put it simply, imagine your DualSense cut in half with an HD screen inserted in the middle and you will have a good idea of what this Project Q looks like.
An accessory rather than a real portable console
To be completely frank, we are talking here more of an accessory than a real portable console. The precise features of this device remain unclear. Will it be able to run some apps and games natively? Right now, all we know is that the Project Q, or whatever its final name is, will essentially be a dedicated display for streaming your PS5 games. Whether you’re at home or on the go, you’ll be able to play your favorite games… as long as you have a good internet connection. Yes, you read that right, we’re talking about local cloud gaming here.
For those familiar with Nintendo’s Wii U, Sony’s Project Q concept might sound familiar. In its day, the Wii U introduced the concept of a remote screen with its GamePad, which allowed gamers to continue playing their games even when the TV was busy. However, the reach was limited to the home. Here, Sony pushes the idea further with the Project Q, by offering a remote gaming experience that is not restricted to the home. With a stable internet connection, you could, in theory, play your favorite PS5 games wherever you are. In a cafe, in a park, on a train…provided of course that your PS5 stays on at home and that your connection is robust enough (in both directions).
The PlayStation 5 will take care of running the game, the video stream will not be transmitted via HDMI to your TV, but via RJ45 or Wi-Fi to your “Project Q”. In short, this device will be able to receive and play this video stream while returning the associated commands. Chances are he can also connect to PlayStation Now to play on Sony’s servers.
So yes, this Project Q looks more like an accessory for the PS5 than a portable console in its own right. It is far from being a PlayStation Vita, a PSP, an Asus ROG Ally or a Steam Deck: the games will not work locally. To sum it up sarcastically, but realistically: if you have a bad connection, the Project Q could end up looking more like a nice paperweight than a real game console.
Like a PSVR2
Could you say that the PSVR2 is a console? No of course not. It’s a helmet, an accessory, with a screen that connects to a PS5. It is in no way autonomous and remains completely dependent on the console to function.
7 /10
It cannot run any games on its own. At first glance, the same goes for the Project Q. It’s not a standalone console, but rather a luxury accessory for your PS5, a way to put your living room screen in your hands.
Also, know that you can already do the same: Remote Play is available to stream games from your PS5, you don’t have to wait for Sony’s new accessory. Almost any iPhone, Android smartphone, Windows, or Mac can do this, and there’s even a Linux app you can launch on the Steam Deck called Chiaki.
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