Sony’s new PS5 Power Saver mode sounds ideal for a PlayStation handheld

Sony is starting to test a new Power Saver mode for PS5 consoles that will allow games to “run with lower power consumption.” The Power Saver mode is being revealed as part of a new PS5 system update beta today, which lets you to pair a DualSense controller with multiple devices.

The new PS5 Power Saver mode will scale back game performance in favor of lower power consumption, and sounds ideal for Sony’s rumored PlayStation handheld. “While this feature won’t be available during the beta phase, once it officially launches, supported PS5 games will scale back performance and will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption when the feature is enabled optionally by gamers,” says Shuzo Kikuchi, vice president of product management at Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Kikuchi says Sony will share supported PS5 games and performance impacts “closer to launch.” The feature is clearly part of Sony’s environmental commitments, but it also sounds like an early way to get PS5 developers ready to think about offering even more modes for games — especially if a portable PlayStation console is on the way that plays PS5 games on the go. Microsoft also asks game developers to build multiple game modes to support its Xbox Series S console.

While you won’t be able to test the Power Saver mode just yet, today’s PS5 beta will allow you to pair up to four devices simultaneously to a single DualSense controller. You’ll also be able to easily switch between devices from your controller, using the PS button and the triangle, circle, cross, and square buttons for the four paired slots.