sony has very important projects in hand with which it will not only expand its ecosystem centered around PS5, but will also go further and dare to face new challenges that will allow it to expand horizons in the video game sector. In this sense we have very important names, such as the expected ps5 slimand also the peculiar Q-Lite.
As we have important and fairly reliable information, I thought it would be interesting to group, clearly and concisely in a single article, all the most important hardware and peripheral developments that Sony could launch. between the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024, that is, in the next year and a half.
Keep in mind that a good part of these novelties have not been officially confirmedbut the sources behind the rumors and leaks that we have seen are quite reliable, so deserve a minimum of consideration and credibility. Personally, I think we can almost certainly say that this year we will see a PS5 Slim, although I am not so convinced about the future launch of PS5 Pro.
Sony Q Lite
What is it?
Some sources defined it as a new portable console from Sony, but in reality it will not be a standalone system, but rather It will be an accessory that we can use with a PS5 to enjoy the Remote Play function (Remote Game). This means that it will not be the expected successor to PSVita, and that its possibilities will be very limited.
In theory, Sony Q-Lite will allow us play streaming with an adaptive resolution and frame rate per second that, in the best possible scenario, will reach values of 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) and 60 FPS. The design of this accessory will be similar to that of the DualSense, but it will have a screen in the center that will allow it to be used as a portable system, although with the limitation that we have already indicated.
Possible release date and price
The presentation of Sony Q-Lite is expected to take place later this year, probably in the last quarter of 2023although nothing is confirmed yet, so it is possible that this date will not end up being fulfilled with total accuracy.
As for the sale price, we have nothing confirmed either, but the first rumors speak of between 100 and 200 euros.
project leonardo
What is it?
Well, Project Leonardo is the only one of all the products that we are going to see in this article that has been confirmed by Sony, since it was officially announced in January of this year and we know that it is about a totally personalized PS5 control controller, and that is aimed at those players with special needsor with any type of motor or physical disability, to allow them to enjoy their favorite video games.
This peripheral was developed in collaboration with numerous specialists in the world of accessibility, and the result has been a very particular control system that allows to cover the needs of different user profiles in an optimal way. The truth is that it seems to me a great initiative on the part of Sony.
Possible release date and price
Its launch is also expected for the last quarter of this year. Sony has not given details about the sale price, but I think that Project Leonardo should move in the range of the 50-100 euros approximately. That level would be the most reasonable considering that in the end it is a control system with a special design.
New PS5 console
What is it?
The truth is that, with the latest information that has been appearing, I cannot refer to it as PS5 Slim with total confidence, but this name serves as a reference to better understand what exactly we are talking about. That new PS5 console it will be a cheaper version of the original which, according to the most reliable sources, will have the following characteristics:
- It will be cheaper to produce.
- It will have a smaller size.
- It will use an AMD APU manufactured on TSMC’s 5nm node.
- Your cooling system will be smaller and cheaper.
- The optical drive will be removable, which will allow the two current versions to be unified in a single model.
That new PS5 It will not be more powerful than the current one, and will maintain all its functions and features, including backward compatibility with PS4 games.
Possible release date and price
Its official presentation is expected to take place this summer, although its launch could be delayed to September or October 2023. The sale price has not been revealed, but everything seems to indicate that it should be between 50 and 100 euros cheaper than current versions, at least.
When talking about the price, it is important to keep in mind that if Sony ends up opting for that design with a removable optical drive, the new PS5 could hit the market. in two packsa cheaper one without such a drive and a more expensive one with the drive included.
New wireless sound devices
What are they?
We are talking about two different types of wireless headphones, some that are known by the code name Project Nomad, and that will adopt a earbud-like design and they would go inside the ear canal, and others known as Project Voyager, which would be some traditional wireless headband headphonesalthough we do not know if it is supraaural or circumaural.
We have very little information about it, but we imagine that both will focus as premium products and that they will be designed to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the PS5 Tempest sound chip.
Possible release date and price
Its release is expected sometime in the first quarter of 2024, that is, between January and March of that year. I don’t have the slightest detail that allows me to reliably guide the sale price, but if they are finally presented as premium products, it is clear that they will move in high numbers.
PS5 Pro, an expected intergenerational renewal
What is it?
PS5 Pro will be a revision of the original PS5 that will come equipped with more powerful hardwareand that it will be able to move more demanding games and current titles in higher resolutions, with higher graphic quality and that, probably, it will also be able to work with ray tracing in a more efficient way, that is, holding up better.
It is one of the most important and most anticipated novelties, although it is also one of the ones that has generated the most doubts in me, since I am not completely convinced of its launch. All in all, I have to admit that quite reliable sources take it for granted that it will eventually arrive, and the truth is that after seeing the success of PS4 Pro it would be totally normal to see a PS5 Pro.
The PS5 Pro should focus its key improvements on the GPU, and the rest of its components could be kept without major changes compared to the original PS5. This would be important for a compatibility issue, and to make things easier for programmers.
Possible release date and price
The most reliable information I have been able to consult point directly to the fourth quarter of 2024. With this in mind, I would venture to say that Sony could wait until Christmas next year for such a release, a date that would be conducive to maximizing interest and sales.
We do not have details about the price, but based on the precedent we have, PS4 Pro, and logically, it is most likely that the price of PS5 Pro will be between 549 and 599 euros. For both prices to make sense, the cost of PS5 would have to go down, that goes without saying.