This mysterious new PS5 feature may be the best evidence yet of Sony’s new console

Summary

Sony has announced a new Power Saver mode for the PS5 that conserves power but will “scale back performance” of supported games.
This new PS5 feature could be useful on a future handheld PlayStation console, which Sony is rumored to be working on.
The PlayStation Portal already exists, but its not on the same level as the Switch 2, Steam Deck, or ROG Xbox Ally.

Now more than ever, I dream of PlayStation releasing a new handheld gaming console. I know the PlayStation Portal exists, but I’m referring to a handheld that actually runs games natively, not streaming them from your PS5 via Wi-Fi.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 breaking sales records, Valve’s Steam Deck continuing to be a hit among PC gamers, and Microsoft recently announcing the ROG Xbox Ally in collaboration with Asus, it’s clear that gamers have a significant interest in portable handheld devices. So, will Sony take note of all this? This upcoming PS5 feature could be an indication.

On its PlayStation Blog, Sony recently announced its new Power Saver mode for the PS5, which “will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption.” The feature isn’t included in the latest PS5 beta, but Sony says its launch is “on the horizon.” The PS5’s new Power Saver mode is entirely optional, and users can enable it directly in the console’s settings menu to help reduce power usage.

However, the caveat with the PS5’s new Power Saver mode is that it will “scale back performance” of any supported PS5 games. Sony has not yet announced which games support the feature. If it’s not enabled or a game does not support it, your PS5 will operate at its normal power output.

While Sony’s new Power Saver mode may not seem all that exciting for the PS5, it is a feature that seemingly could pair well with a future handheld console.

4K Capability: Yes
Brand: PlayStation
Storage: 2TB
Screen Resolution: VRR and 8K

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X floating in an empty room showing off its app switcher interface.

My excitement for the Xbox handheld just died

Leaked European pricing for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X give us an idea of much the handhelds will cost in the US.

Is Sony preparing for a PlayStation handheld?

Its new Power Saver mode could be utilized on a handheld console

playstation-handheld-2 — Craig Donaldson via Sony

As soon as Sony announced the PS5’s new Power Saver mode, speculation quickly spread online that this could be a sign of a new PlayStation handheld coming soon, and I personally hope that’s the case.

Sony hasn’t detailed how its new Power Saver mode will impact games on PS5, but I expect it will reduce resolution and frame rates to conserve power. If you’re looking to save energy at home, this feature would be quite helpful. Still, it would likely be more beneficial for a PlayStation handheld than for the PS5 itself.

While Sony attributes the development of the feature to its environmental goals, including reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, it might also be a way to encourage PS5 developers to create energy-saving modes for their games — possibly in anticipation of a handheld that would need to run PS5 games with a lower power draw.

Requesting developers to work on different performance modes isn’t a new, and this generation has seen many games offering both performance and quality modes. Xbox already requires developers to optimize their games for the Xbox Series S, so the idea of Sony working with developers to create even more optimized versions of PS5 games doesn’t seem out of the question.

Of course, this is all just speculation, but as someone who loves PlayStation and has many fond memories of playing the PSP, I would love to see Sony release a proper handheld once again.

If Sony works with developers to add broad support for Power Saver mode in PS5 games, then, if it decides to launch a handheld in the future, it could already have a large library of PS5 games with a power-optimized, handheld-friendly mode ready to go. Of course, this is all just speculation, but as someone who loves PlayStation and has many fond memories of playing the PSP, I would love to see Sony release a proper handheld once again.

Handhelds aren’t new territory for Sony. Back in 2004, it released the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and in 2011, it launched the PS Vita. Sony has long been rumored to be working on a new handheld console. Last year, Bloomberg reported that Sony is in the “early stages” of developing a PlayStation handheld capable of running PS5 games. However, it is reportedly “years from launch.”

Sony’s new Power Saver mode for the PS5 is coming soon, and the gaming giant says it will “share more details on this new option as we get closer to launch.” The announcement was made alongside the PS5’s latest beta update, which will allow you to connect your DualSense wireless controller across multiple devices simultaneously.