PS5 SDK updates hinting at power-saving high priority, new hardware speculation.
Reports from the PlayStation 5 developer arm reveal that power efficiency is high on Sony's agenda, and therefore hardware plans such as a handheld console are being speculated.
Support for Power Saver Mode Added to All PS5 SDKs
Sony took the decision to patch all PS5 game development SDKs, from the earliest 1.0 release to the present 12.0, with support for a Power Saver Mode.
This is notable in that such backward compatibility was not offered for PS5 Pro support. For developers of launch games on older SDKs like 1.0 or 2.0, Sony recommended updating to the latest SDK to use PS5 Pro features. The decision to incorporate Power Saver Mode on previous SDKs is a sign that for Sony, it is a more urgent matter than allowing Pro features in legacy game builds.
Document on CPU Optimization Mentioning Low Power Modes
Another hint comes from developer documentation on CPU optimization that reportedly mentions future deployment of new Low Power Modes.
The document goes on to state that the games ought to be made to run on as low as 8-Threads. It further adds, "new operating modes may be supported in the future and applications may run in environments with different available CPU configurations."
Speculation Points on the Possible 'Canis Handheld'
The combination of these software and documentation changes-a focus on power saving and allowing games to run on different CPU configurations and with a reduced number of threads-leads to the conclusion that Sony is engaged in preparations regarding a new hardware platform. The source speculates that these preparations are for a "Canis Handheld," likely an internal codename for some future portable device.
