Sony PlayStation chief hints at portable hybrid console for next generation

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino said future hardware will enable gaming "in several forms and places," fueling speculation about a hybrid, portable PlayStation similar to Nintendo’s Switch. In a Famitsu interview marking the magazine’s 40th anniversary, Nishino emphasized the importance of "pick up and play" while reaffirming Sony’s commitment to dedicated consoles. He cited the PlayStation Portal streaming device as an example of expanding gameplay beyond the television and noted cloud‑gaming usage grew 1.5 times from December 2025 to January 2026.

Nishino also discussed the potential direction of the upcoming PlayStation 6, mentioning rumors of a portable version that could support backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles, and a possible lower‑cost "PS6 S" model. He warned that rising memory costs could push next‑gen console prices above $1,000, which might delay the launch to avoid high pricing impact.