PlayStation 6 Leak Reveals Handheld Console With Docking Capability

Despite what many to be an underwhelming generation for the PS5, rumors about the inevitable PlayStation 6 have picked up. The latest leak claims that Sony’s next home console will have a transformative feature relating to its form factor, which would put it in more direct competition with the Nintendo Switch 2.

According to tech YouTuber and leaker Moore’s Law Is Dead, the PlayStation 6 will have a dockable handheld alternative, allowing games to be played on the go, similar to how the Switch 2 and its predecessor work. They claim to have seen recent documents about the in-development console, which show that a handheld device is an optional addition or alternative to the more traditional PS6, with the capability to be docked so it plays on a TV. MLID’s speculation also points to the PlayStation 6 and its handheld companion releasing in late 2027.

PS6 Leak Points To Handheld With Docking Feature

PlayStation 5-Level Gaming On The Go

The leak claims that the handheld PS6 device will retail for around $500. This is supposedly going to be a separate purchase from the traditional console itself (unless a bundle is offered), meaning the PlayStation 6 and its handheld counterpart could conceivably exceed a $1,000 price tag in total. The leak also claims that the handheld will have roughly the same specs as a base PS5 when used in handheld mode – MLID speculates that it will likely have a built-in 1080p display.

Similar to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, the PS6 handheld will see a boost to its performance via the dock. The documents supposedly seen by MLID indicate that both the PlayStation 6 and its companion handheld will have backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 games. There is no mention of PS3 compatibility; Sony’s seventh-generation console had notoriously tricky architecture, making backward compatibility unfeasible on the PS4 and PS5, which will likely remain an issue into the 10th generation.

Could PS6 Be The Nintendo Switch 2 Killer?

Handheld Gaming Golden Age

A PlayStation 6 handheld essentially having the same functionality as the Switch 2 – being able to output to a TV – gives Nintendo some serious competition. The Switch 2 is shattering console launch records, outpacing its predecessor and showing that handheld gaming is more in-demand than ever. But the leaked PS6 handheld fills a so-far vacant niche, which is higher-powered handhelds. Nintendo’s hardware has been notably under-powered compared to Microsoft’s and Sony’s machines for multiple generations.

Much like Xbox’s ROG Ally X, Sony will enter the modern handheld scene later than Nintendo. There’s clearly some room to offer better performance on handheld AAA titles, but it still feels unlikely that PlayStation could dethrone the Switch 2. Nintendo’s first-party exclusives are a major draw for the Switch 2, and until Nintendo goes multi-platform (which it has shown no indication of doing), there will be no true Switch 2 killer. A PlayStation 6 handheld is still an extremely exciting prospect, but it would likely be an alternative to the base PS6, rather than a dominant competitor to the Switch 2.

9/10

Brand

Nintendo

Original Release Date

June 5, 2025

Original MSRP (USD)

$449.99

Operating System

Proprietary

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.