- Kyle Chua
Sony Reportedly Renews Cloud Gaming Push Amid Rumours of a New Handheld Console
Updated: Dec 19, 2023
Sony isn't giving up on cloud gaming just yet, if recent job listings are to be believed.
According to The Verge, Sony is currently looking to fill 22 positions related to cloud gaming tech, specifically aimed at the PlayStation brand. One of the listings, for instance, requires the candidate to “develop and deliver the strategic vision for cloud game streaming at PlayStation".
The electronics giant is also looking for engineers and project managers that'll be part of Sony Interactive Entertainment Future Technology Group, the group that handles research and development of gaming-related tech, such as virtual reality (VR), controllers and software features, among others.
"As a member of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Future Technology Group (FTG), you’ll have the opportunity to lead the charge in the cloud gaming revolution," the listings read. "FTG is at the forefront of putting console-quality video games on any device."
While some of the listings have since been made private, their existence does suggest Sony is taking another crack at cloud gaming for PlayStation. Its previous effort, PlayStation Now, gave players access to a rotating catalogue of older games that they could stream via the cloud on either their PlayStation console or PCs. The service, however, stopped being available on mobile devices after Sony discontinued support for the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) in 2018. Then last year, Sony merged the service with its revamped PlayStation Plus subscription service, offering it as one of the benefits of the top-tier plan.
The news comes amid rumours of Sony developing a new PlayStation handheld console. But as to whether the cloud service has any connection to that remains unclear. The purported handheld, codenamed "Q Lite", is said to be a streaming device instead of a cloud gaming device. That means it's not wholly a standalone device, and would require players to own a PlayStation 5, where they can stream their games from.
Sony hasn't put out a new PlayStation handheld in more than a decade after the PS Vita, released in 2011, failed to meet sales expectations. The company only managed to move around 6 million Vita units by the end of its life cycle – 4 million short of the expected 10 million. Its predecessor, the PSP, in comparison sold over 80 million units. There were a number of factors that affected the Vita's sales, including the lack of third-party support for games, the rise of mobile gaming and strong competition from Nintendo.
As usual though, since Sony has yet to officially announce its renewed interest in cloud gaming and its new handheld, it's best to chalk these reports up as rumours for now. These projects are also likely in the early phases of development, so there might not be any news about them again until much later.
Sony is currently looking to fill 22 positions related to cloud gaming tech, specifically aimed at the PlayStation brand.
While some of the listings have since been made private, their existence does suggest the electronics giant is taking another crack at cloud gaming for PlayStation.
Its previous effort, PlayStation Now, gave players access to a rotating catalogue of older games that they could stream via the cloud on either their PlayStation console or PCs.
The news comes amid rumours of Sony developing a new PlayStation handheld console, though whether the two share any connection remains unclear.