A modder that goes by Wewillmakeitnow on Reddit has shared footage of a functional and portable PlayStation 4, using parts salvaged from a PlayStation 4 Slim console.
The handheld runs PS4 games natively given the hardware it’s built around, with the modder cutting down the console’s PCB as much as possible to fit within a custom enclosure. That’s equipped with a 7-inch OLED display, the ability to connect the device to a TV, and a 130Wh battery that manages anywhere between 90 minutes to three hours of gameplay depending on the game.
Credit: Wewillmakeitnow on Reddit
Given the scope of the project and the design around a PCB that was never designed for a portable form factor, the handheld is quite thick and seemingly unwieldly to hold. Wewillmakeitnow states that this was purely an engineering experiment and doesn’t plan to make anymore, despite some request from other Reddit users on the thread.
While you’re unlikely to ever get your hands on this device, it does showcase the potential of a device that might run PS4 titles natively. Sony has been rumored to be working on such a device, potentially returning to the portable market for the first time since the PS Vita (if we aren’t counting the cloud-powered PS Portal). Without hardware custom-made for that form factor, you can likely expect such a device, if it ever materializes, to be far sleeker than what is on display here, but it’s still fascinating to see what solo engineers are still able to do with off-the-shelf parts.
Moving away entirely from portability, another hardware modder this week shared a look at an ambitious project that combines a PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 into one monolithic console.