Leaks suggest Sony is building a handheld PlayStation, Project Canis, launching with PS6: RDNA 5 chip, 1080p portable, 1440p docked, PSSR 2 upscaling.
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Sony appears to be preparing a serious return to the handheld console market—not as a companion accessory, but as a fully fledged gaming device. According to leaks, a project codenamed Project Canis is a standalone portable PlayStation that could arrive alongside PlayStation 6. This would not be a PlayStation Portal-style gadget or a streaming-only unit, but a true console capable of running games natively.
The key shift is strategic. Sony recognizes that players are increasingly unwilling to stay tied to a TV, while the success of Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck shows handheld gaming has become mainstream. The new console is being considered not as a side product, but as an essential part of the next-generation PlayStation ecosystem—one that keeps users within Sony’s platform while letting them play anywhere.
Indirect signs of the project are already showing up in software. Developers report that Sony is pressing for support of a new power-saving mode, with changes even pushed to older PS5 devkit versions. Insiders suggest this isn’t about environmental targets, but about preparing games to operate under low power consumption—an attribute that is critical for a battery-powered handheld. The emphasis reads like a clear nod to mobile-first priorities.
Rumors point to a custom AMD chip built on RDNA 5, tuned for high performance at low energy draw. In portable mode, the console may target 1080p gameplay, and when connected to a USB-C dock, scale up to deliver comfortable play at 1440p. Sony is reportedly banking on PSSR 2 AI upscaling to preserve visual quality without cutting back on the games themselves.
If launched, this system would let Sony cover two fronts at once: a powerful home PS6 and a hybrid handheld for a broader audience. With Switch 2 on the horizon and ongoing talk of an Xbox portable, this is a market that’s hard to sit out. Current chatter points to a potential unveiling in 2027–2028, but the groundwork for a “portable PlayStation of the future” is already being laid.