With gaming fans still trying to forget the lackluster PS Vita, PlayStation boss John Kodera reveals that Sony hasn't given up on portable consoles just yet and teases that something new could be coming soon.

Kodera already confessed that the PlayStation 4 is nearing the end of its life cycle and that the company will start to look ahead to the PlayStation 5, but that isn't to say another portable console won't appear in the meantime or alongside the PS5.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Kodera mused that a more coherent link between at-home and portable consoles is needed if Sony wants to succeed.

“In my opinion, rather than separating portable gaming from consoles, it’s necessary to continue thinking of it as one method to deliver more gaming experiences and exploring what our customers want from portable. We want to think about many options."

Only last year, Sony filed a patent for a handheld console that looked suspiciously like the Nintendo Switch and even featured some Joy-Con-inspired controls on the side. As Kodera says, Sony isn't saying yes to another handheld PlayStation just yet but they are looking at the "many options."

PlayStation Vita console

Exploring the history of PlayStation consoles and leaving the confines of the home, Sony enjoyed steady success with the PlayStation Portable. On the other hand, the release of the Vita in 2012 failed to generate the buzz that experts had hoped for and the system is preparing to limp off into the depths of forgotten consoles. The Vita's biggest problem was a hefty price tag, coupled with a lack of big titles to lure fans in and the company shifting nearly all its focus onto PlayStation 4 games. Going up against Nintendo's 3DS, the Vita simply couldn't compete, so it was no surprise that Shuhei Yoshida pulled the plug on any plans for a successor in 2015.

As the supersized sales of the Nintendo Switch have shown though, gamers still want to be able to take their consoles on the move, so the next portable PlayStation could tie in with the PS5 rather than be a standalone system. The other big option is a suped-up Vita as a way to revitalize the console's tarnished reputation. Despite vanishing from much of the West, the Vita still has a loyal following in Japan. Just as Microsoft recently brought its Duke controller back to life, the Sony devs could be preparing to resurrect the Vita once again.

Either way, Kodera and co. aren't looking to reveal anything yet, so don't expect some portable PS to rear its head at this year's E3. Even with persistent rumors that the PlayStation 5 will go head-to-head with the next Xbox, fans are warned not to expect the next generation of consoles before 2020.  As with all these things, it is a case of wait and see, but rest assured that Sony has big plans for the PlayStation name and whatever comes next will surely have everyone talking.

More: 'There Have Been Discussions' About PS1 Classic Edition

Source: Bloomberg