Best Remote Play Alternatives to the New PlayStation Handheld ‘Project Q’ [IGN]

If you missed the news, PlayStation is officially producing a brand-new handheld which is currently only known as ‘Project Q’. It’s a dedicated Remote Play device for PS5, which means it will only work at home with your PS5 on the same Wi-Fi network. In case you didn’t realize, you can pretty much already do this with your phone, tablet, or home computer. So, if you wanted to play around with PS5 Remote Play before buying into Project Q, or you just want to circumvent the handheld altogether, then we’re here to help.

TL;DR – Best Alternatives for Remote Play:

• Backbone One (Android)
• Backbone One (iPhone)
• SteelSeries Stratus+
• Razer Kishi V2
• Razer Raiju Mobile
• PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus
• Logitech G Cloud Handheld
• Razer Edge Handheld
• Steam Deck
• ASUS ROG Ally

With the Remote Play app and a Bluetooth-enabled controller, bandwidth permitting, you can already play your PS5 games anywhere in the house right now. But, if you want to make Remote Play just that little bit more mobile and reminiscent of the upcoming PS handheld, then you should check out our top picks for the best phone controllers. The Backbone One (Android or iPhone) is our top pick, but we’ve gone into a bit more detail below if you’re looking to make a more informed decision.

Best Project Q Alternative: Backbone One

While this doesn’t include the central 8″ LCD screen like Project Q, the Backbone One mobile gaming controller does allow you to turn your phone into a handy portable gaming console. It serves as an expandable, flexible dock for your device by locking controls on each side while freeing up the screen to see clearly for a more enjoyable gaming experience and a comfortable hold.

The Backbone One holds onto your phone and connects to it over the Lightning port or USB-C to deliver lower latency than you’ll get from Bluetooth connections. With the Backbone One connected, you’ll get your main gaming controls, including two analog sticks, a solid D-pad along with a plethora of responsive, somewhat mushy buttons. The controller even lets you charge while you’re playing, and you can use a wired headset thanks to the 3.5mm jack on the left side of the controller.

Otherwise, there are plenty of other great options when it comes to phone controllers, like the Razer Kishi V2, Raiju Mobile, SteelSeries Stratus+ and PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus. Each of these will perfectly set up your phone for PS5 gaming in bed, or anywhere else really.

What is Project Q? PlayStation’s New Handheld

Featuring a screen with a controller hitched on either side, the new device is reminiscent of most other modern gaming handhelds like Switch, Steam Deck, or ROG Ally, but actually holds more in common with the likes of the Razer Edge.

Project Q is a dedicated PlayStation handheld device launching later this year and will play any compatible game installed on your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi. It won’t work like the PS handhelds of the past (Vita or PSP), and you won’t be able to install games on it. It’s a screen, with a DualSense controller stuck on either side.

While this may be disappointing for some, there are also some aspects to potentially be excited for. Project Q will include DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, alongside an 8″ LCD 1080p screen running at 60Hz. The new handheld is set to release before the end of 2023, with price and preorder details still to be confirmed.

Utilize Your Other Devices: Steam Deck and More

If you’re looking for something a little more substantial than your 4-5″ phone screen, then you should also consider utilizing any other devices you own. Tablets or iPads are a good start if you can find a way to set them up comfortably. Otherwise, portable handhelds with dedicated screens like the Logitech Cloud G or Razer Edge specialize in cloud streaming via Xbox Game Pass or NVIDIA GeForce Now, but are also capable of utliziing Remote Play (or apps like Chiaki or PSPlay) as well.

Otherwise, your Steam Deck is also capable of remote play, but we’d suggest following a guide for this as it can take a little time to tinker and set it up correctly. ROG Ally might be a bit easier to set up, albeit that’s $700 and shouldn’t be considered unless you’ve already preordered it.

Your home computer can use PS5 Remote Play as well, so you’re at no shortage of ways to play your PlayStation games at home without being directly next to the console. If we can offer one other tip, it’s that you should plug your PS5 console into your router via ethernet cable in order to vastly improve the connection speed. This will help with any buffering or lag issues you might encounter when only on your Wi-Fi signal. For more on PlayStation, check out our complete PS5 deals roundup, the best PlayStation-themed gifts for Father’s Day, or everything revealed during the recent PlayStation Showcase.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.