Project Q is a new handheld “device” that Sony revealed over the summer, which seems to be a streaming accessory for the PS5. What exactly is it? We still don’t know, but we have some ideas on what would make us want to buy one.
Dustin
A recent tear down showcased that Project Q was running a version of Android, and I have to say… so what? At first this is pretty exciting news because Android is so easy to break into, even if Sony has it all locked down. Which, in theory, means the Project Q could easily become a really neat portable handheld system.
But, I remembered Sony has stated this is a “streaming device.” More than likely, that means Project Q probably has little—or none—internal memory, and probably just enough for OS updates and whatever is needed to interlink it with the PS5. Beyond that I don’t expect to see expandable memory, or anything that gives portability to the unit at all. As such, my excitement is pretty much all but gone.
For me, Project Q has to offer something for people who don’t have kids. I get it, Project Q will be great to play your PS5 when your kid(s) take over the TV. That’s awesome for those people, but for gamers like me it’s nearly useless.
Sony, much like everything they released lately, has provided almost no details or updates about the device since revealing it in June. Hopefully this doesn’t turn out to be like the PSVR2 where a majority of people don’t even realize it exists. Project Q actually needs some advertising and support to show the purpose. I have a strong feeling that, unlike the PSVR2, it won’t be a device people are blown away by when they get their hands on it.
Sure, it’ll have its uses, like playing co-op games with a partner or even playing God Of War while taking a shit…But will it have $300 dollars worth of use? As it stands, no.
Sony has shown absolutely no reason to buy this thing at all for people like me (due to Sony once again failing at advertising). With a Backbone on my mobile device, or a computer elsewhere in my house, I can stream my PS5 basically anywhere I want, and is a feature I use frequently. But what makes Project Q so special?
For starters I need Project Q to stream my PS5 better than any other device I have, which is actually a tough thing to do. Sony owns several patents for streaming now, and the services available are actually pretty good, but some things can be improved. Project Q could be a pick up and go concept. No need to set up my PS5, turn on my PS4, select streaming, and wait to connect. Simply turn on Project Q, have a pop up say “are you ready to start streaming?” and go. And while the other services are pretty good, I still struggle with latency at times, and simply reducing this to a point of not noticing it would make me look at the Project Q instantly. No more blurry bogged down visuals on the PS4? Sold.
Beyond that, I need Project Q to offer a little more than just streaming to justify purchasing it. I need some additional features for PS5 such as in-game updates, or being able to view maps on the screen. Co-op play could be grab and go similar to streaming, allowing it to function as a “split screen” without splitting the main screen.
And lastly, it needs to work from anywhere. Sony has not confirmed if Project Q will work outside of your wifi network at all, but it needs to. If I can connect to my PS5 remotely through my phone, Project Q should be able to stream games from anywhere I can reach the internet. Especially if this is a locked down device with no internal or expanded storage. If Project Q is withheld to your own home, and only has the rumored 3 hours of battery life, it’s entirely pointless to me.
Jordan
As Dustin rightfully points out, as a parent, Project Q was immediately appealing to me when it was first revealed. Even now, with the PS5 and such, my Nintendo Switch remains among the most used consoles in my house. It’s just…easy. When the youngest wants to watch her shows on the TV, I can whip out the Switch and play for a little bit (unless she’s watching Bluey and then I’m all in).
Being able to pick it up for just a few minutes, hop into a game, and set it back down is convenient. My playtime isn’t always open, and sometimes all I have are 15 minute spurts to do anything, which makes it tough to play some of those massive story games. With the Switch, I’ve been able to work my way through some impressive titles at my own pace, without feeling left behind.
I think this is something other gamers can appreciate well. We all know there are plenty of people who ended up giving up gaming due to time constraints (even if they didn’t have kids). It’s not that they didn’t love playing any more, but as games ballooned into massive endeavors with 100s of hours of content, or even persistent online worlds (Destiny 2 and the like), they just couldn’t fit it into their lives anymore.
Project Q could be exactly the device they need. Again, we don’t know how it will work, but I’m crossing my fingers it manages to retain some level of “quick suspension and restart” like the PlayStation 5 itself does. Loading up a game can eat up time (another thing I enjoy about the Switch’s sleep mode), so being able to skip that step can help in diving into a game for smaller periods of time.
Imagine being able to fire up Horizon, or God of War, for just a few minutes while you’re waiting on dinner to finish cooking. In that way, I think Project Q has the potential to appeal to a wider audience of gamers, though I hope there is some functionality that allows it to be a “portable PS5” outside of your home. Because playing the latest Final Fantasy, or hopping in for a quick match, while waiting on an oil change would be all kinds of fantastic.
Other than that, the thing I want most out of Project Q is for it to be fully compatible with everything. Nothing kills an accessory/peripheral faster than it only working for specific things. When I pick it up, I want to feel like I have the power/access to my PS5 in my hands, and not just a handful of compatible titles.
