Sony announces Project Q, a PlayStation streaming handheld

The long-rumored PlayStation handheld has been codenamed Project Q, and it will use the PlayStation 5's remote play to stream games to the device. Along with it, Sony has revealed a new pair of official earbuds.

The details:

• Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan revealed the handheld with a teaser trailer at PlayStation Showcase, revealing that the device itself resembles the Nintendo Switch, with an 8-inch HD screen wedged between two halves of the PS5 DualSense controller. It is currently codenamed "Project Q," with its official name and more details to be revealed in the future ahead of its release "later this year."
• While many have been waiting for a PlayStation handheld since the PS Vita's flop on the market over a decade ago, many fans are disappointed by the new device's reliance on streaming. To play anything on the device, players must first own a PS5, have all of the games downloaded to the console, and be constantly connected to a stable enough wi-fi connection. Even before the official announcement, fans pointed out that remote play is already available via a mobile app with third-party controller grips from a variety of companies and that Sony could've instead used its PlayStation Plus streaming service if it could be updated to include PS5 titles.
• Sony also revealed a pair of PlayStation earbuds that will be capable of delivering low-latency lossless audio over Bluetooth via "new technology." There aren't many details about the PS earbuds yet, such as a release date or price, but given that Sony is behind the highly rated WF-1000XM4 earbuds, we can expect high-quality sound from them. We also got a look at the design of the case and earbuds, which match the sleek white and black design of the PS5.
• Ryan told investors the day before the reveal that the handheld was part of PlayStation's "fairly interesting and quite aggressive plans" for cloud gaming, which is said to be "fundamental" in order to "exploit that trend of mobility." Ryan declined to go into further detail, only saying that the plans would "unfold over the course of the coming months."

More PlayStation news:

• Sony has revealed that the PlayStation VR2 has sold over 600,000 units since its February release, representing an increase of 8% over the original headset. Analysts predicted that the headset would sell 270,000 units by March 2023, but it sold twice that amount.
• Sony is said to have canceled a $50 million PS5 exclusive developed by Deviation Games. A former developer stated, when asked why the project was canceled, "I'm really not sure, other than probably cost-cutting."