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A ‘PlayStation Q-Lite’ release date is entirely up in the air, but when do we think it could launch?
According to the latest rumours, PlayStation’s next handheld is currently code-named the PlayStation Q-Lite. The specific origin of this is uncertain, though it looks as though Insider Gaming’s recent ‘exclusive‘ is where it started. Whether or not this is true, only Sony know. However, the current theories and leaks have settled on the name.
Said to be a companion to the PlayStation 5, rather than a PS Vita 2, the Q-Lite is expected to be a cloud-based device. This is rumoured by Jeff Grubb, who has previously ‘heard about a cloud-streaming handheld.’ Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson then spun the whirligig of rumours again: “[The] new Sony hardware I alluded to in yesterday’s stream hasn’t been reported on yet,” affirming rumours of a new family of handhelds.
Yet, amid all the rumours, not much is said about a release. When do we think it could launch?
‘PlayStation Q-Lite’ release date leaks
The Insider Gaming leaks mention a release scheduled “before the PlayStation 5 Pro and after the Detachable Disc Drive PS5,” which is as much information as we’re going to get right now.
A ‘PlayStation 5 Pro‘ is rumoured for a launch in 2024, while the Detachable Disc Drive PS5 is presumably rumoured to launch before then. Without exact dates to suggest when these devices could arrive – it doesn’t exactly make it easy to predict a potential Q-Lite release date.
According to some, the “Sony PlayStation Q-Lite could be released as soon as November 2023,” for which Henderson’s appearance on the Iron Lord podcast is cited.
Release date prediction
In light of the above rumours – we’re going to expect release date for a ‘PlayStation Q-Lite’, or whatever it could be called, to fall in the first half of 2024. While Henderson’s rumoured Q4 2023 release date is hopeful, it doesn’t seem in character for Sony to launch a console without months (if not years) of audience reception. For example, the PSVR 2 had months of time in the news before it launched.
So, if Sony are to dabble in the handheld industry again – we won’t expect it for a while.
What else do we know about the rumoured PlayStation Q-Lite?
Others, cited above, have stated that the “Q-Lite could retail for around $200,” while Forbes have gone ahead and stated it’s “not true competition for the Switch or Steam Deck.”
At the moment, it seems a lot of rumours and leaks are being conflated with opinion. At the same time, it’s hard to cut through the noise and settle on information that’s clear and evidenced. So, to be clear, we really don’t know much about the prospective device.
Forbes stating that it’s going to exist outside of the Switch and Steam Deck’s realm is interesting. While one is particularly affordable, the other is premium and thus offers a higher-fidelity experience. It’s going to be interesting to see where the Q-Lite fits into these constraints, though realistically, if it’s cloud-based, it’s won’t fit at all.
We’re going to keep you updated on the Q-Lite, but in the meantime you might be interested in a possible Nintendo Switch 2 or PS5 Slim. Make sure to check back in with us periodically, as we might learn a PlayStation Q-Lite release date before then.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has a PlayStation Q-Lite been announced by Sony?
At the time of writing, it’s not been announced by Sony or PlayStation. We only have ‘insider’ rumours to base this off.
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