Sony and the Q Lite

[Dark Jaguar]

Sony is making a new handheld called the "Q Lite".
https://kotaku.com/sony-playstation-vita...1850303111
But hold on now, because this isn't a new PSP or Vita.  This is a tablet that functions as an additional screen for the PS5 and remote play, nothing more.  It requires an online connection to work.  It's an accessory that's basically what people THOUGHT the Wii U was, just a tablet for their existing console.

So, I guess we can call this the P U?

[A Black Falcon]

So, this thing has been announced now to what seems like a not particularly good reaction from gamers.  I'm sure there are people who would want this thing, but between streaming to a phone or just playing Switch, which does not rely on streaming everything, the market for this thing does seem a bit questionable.  It could do alright though, I guess we'll have to see... but so far anything streaming-only has been a big flop, and for good reason: streamed games do not play as well as local ones.  A streaming-only device is not very appealing...

[Dark Jaguar]

So, this thing has been announced now to what seems like a not particularly good reaction from gamers.  I'm sure there are people who would want this thing, but between streaming to a phone or just playing Switch, which does not rely on streaming everything, the market for this thing does seem a bit questionable.  It could do alright though, I guess we'll have to see... but so far anything streaming-only has been a big flop, and for good reason: streamed games do not play as well as local ones.  A streaming-only device is not very appealing...

We've also seen what happens when a streaming service goes dark, thanks to Google.  You simply lose everything.  It's a lot harder a pill to swallow to lose games you've put so much time and effort into than losing access to movies or shows on, say, Netflix.

In the meanwhile, we have the NVidia Shield and the Steam Deck.  The clear Switch inspiration combines with both devices basically just being portable PCs running well known OSes.  Steam Deck runs a variation of Linux and NVidia Shield runs a variation of Android, and both allow you to install Windows or some other OS as well.  They are the Switch successors, basically, although far more expensive.  In fact Nintendo was so scared of the Steam Deck they threatened legal action over a Gamecube emulator.  (Of course, emulation is legal, but they were using a security key that Nintendo claims as copywritten.  Still, that code is just a short string of characters which makes defending it in court far more challenging.  Further, all the emulator makers need to do is say "we can't provide this key, so you will have to acquire it yourself".)

In this environment, Sony released the Q Lite.  Here's what really stings.  It's a PORTABLE gaming machine that exclusively runs STREAMED games.  Those two things don't go together, at all.  Nintendo themselves have found this out when they licensed that Kingdom Hearts collection that only runs in streamed mode, and customers sought out refunds almost immediately when they found that they could realistically play the game on the go.