New PlayStation Patent Could Let You Put Controller Buttons Where You Want

Sounds like it would be expensive

But in answer to the question of whether I'd buy one, I'd have to say no.

I think the PS5 controller is perfect as it is

Great idea, terrible execution if this really does use a touchscreen. Besides the general crap quality of mobile games, one of the biggest downsides is touch screen controls. The rare instances I play a mobile game I am forever ‘losing’ the button or stick, as in I think I’m pressing it but because the button doesn’t actually physically exist there’s no tactile feel to maintain that brain-thumb connection. Touch screen controls (as a main method of play, not a sparsely used gimmick) are trash.

Allowing us to swap button placements would be nice if it used physical buttons somehow, but also largely redundant. The DualSense is easily one of the best controllers I’ve ever held and quite literally the only thing I’d change is to go for offset sticks. That’s it. Otherwise it’s perfect.

Sounds terrible. Buttons have some big advantages, mainly the tactile feedback and being able to feel where each button is. Touchscreen gaming is a thing (mobile), but that works because the user is already looking at the screen. I don't want to be looking down at the controller when playing on my TV. Outside of some niche uses, I can't see a reason to get this.

Of course, it's just a patent, so it's likely nothing will come of this.

No no no utterly stupid

Nnnnnope, absolutely dumb idea. There is no better feeling than smashing those buttons or aiming with the analag sticks - that cannot be replaced. It would feel like emulating on a phone.

This is a fairly weak patent. Mobile games and streaming services like Xcloud had this feature for several years on touchscreens. Apple MacBooks used to have a customizable touchscreen bar above the keyboard and there are several programmable touchscreen keyboards. I wouldn't call the idea something Sony invented.

Regarding customizable controller layouts, Turtle Beach (Stealth Pivot Wireless) and Thrustmaster (ESwap Pro) already have a controller which allows you to do that.

Also, as the article is describing this as an "accessibility needs" feature, I personally think it's wrong to lock accessibility features behind a patent unless they plan to make it available for free for any hardware manufacturer.

Here's your digital controller to play your digital games.

@BloodyBlact

Nnnnnope, absolutely dumb idea. There is no better feeling than smashing those buttons or aiming with the analag sticks - that cannot be replaced. It would feel like emulating on a phone.

Maybe Sony is aiming to capture that Gen Z audience who grew up playing on smartphones and has no clue how a controller with actual buttons works. 😄

@TrollOfWar you would say that already released Accessibility controller is not patented by Sony? And anyone can make such copy-cat design? I doubt that.

People buy controllers to play on their phones to avoid crappy controls. Why would anyone want a touchscreen to play on a console?

Touch screens are awful for controllers. No.

Patent is from 2013…

There is zero percent chance this is a future PlayStation controller. Seems more like a prototype that they just wanted to patent

Nah, I’m good. My muscle memory is already well dialled in to the DualSense, and I way prefer physical buttons to a touchscreen for gaming controls.

On the bright side, at least this could've probably eliminated stick drift lol

Shame they could patent sticks that don’t get drift after 6 months

Give me a bit smaller controller as a option instead..

If you've played a game on your phone, and you've never screwed up an action with those touch buttons, then you're a champ, and this will fit you nicely.
As for me, I'll choose physical buttons every time.

@REALAIS

@TrollOfWar you would say that already released Accessibility controller is not patented by Sony? And anyone can make such copy-cat design? I doubt that.

I believe Sony also has a patent on the PlayStation Access adaptive controller.

My point is that, despite all the negativity EA gets, they at least make their accessibility pantents free to use for everyone else.
See: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-makes-eight-new-accessibility-patents-free-to-all

Accessibility peripherals are usually already quite expensive, which is making them often unaffordable for people who are already struggling to get a job. If no name hardware manufacturers could create cheaper copy-cat products then yes I am totally for it, because the option for cheaper accessibility peripherals is more important than the profit margin of large corporations.

So long as it doesn't replace a more traditional controller then sure. Go for it. If this would be the standard controller though I would not be happy.

Nice and logical gadget.

Personaly I don't play on mobile EXACTLY because of missing mechanical sticks and buttons. So this controller isn't for me.

That sounds dreadful! Can’t stand not having a functional button or control stick. The idea of having a flat surface with touch controls isn’t something I’d ever buy. I guess this would be some sort of pro controller rather than the standard type.

It would make controllers expensive and touch controls are always flimsy on my iPhone, which has a high end touch screen anyway, so I can’t imagine it would be better on a controller. A touchscreen can struggle with pressure detection and it’s already flimsy on tablets with palm rejection tech. Nothing beats a controller with real, physical buttons on it.

I would leave the PS6 controller exactly the same as the PS5 controller in terms of layout and functionality.
As others have said, too few use the features now, and adding / changing things would be a big mistake imo.

If they'd reinvent the wheel as much with cars we'd have them flying by now. PS3 controller was good enough xD

@somnambulance Agreed, I found more AA Japanese games that used the Dualshock 4 more then Sony did, whether the vibration scaling (Azure Gunvolt which was cool and Clannad, yes the visual novel had vibration scaling, surprised me when I came across that as it doesn't really need it but still cool)

The touchpad halves with Nier Automata was cool, its not great in Wonderful 101 Remastered of dual screen picture in picture and it's swiping/pressing the touchpad versus the stick was ok not great.

Of course many games use the touchpad as a button and that's it. The new Select button everybody. Sigh. Share/Create is ok a a button.

I can't think of many that use it for that really, the touch gestures with Killzone Shadowfall was cool........ yeah can't think of many (even the PS1/PS2/PSP emulation uses the halves more then Sony did in their actual major games).

The speaker gets used fair on Dualsense in some games, same as PS4 even if I mostly remember Killzone using it.

Dual screen or asymmetrical use cases were ok with PSVR or Playlink smartphone/tablet or other situations, not as good as Wii U though.

Gyro was good in some shooters, whether Gal Gun did it ok (I assume compared to it's VR entry on PC that was just a prototype of Gal Gun 2). I can't say for other rail shooters, but for other 1st/3rd person shooters (forget which ones) it was fine but I have more so played Wii U or Switch versions (Splatoon especially is so much fun with motion) with gyro aim more then PS4. Even Heavenly Sword's Sixaxis on PS3 with the cross bow was fun.

Let alone gyro aim for shooters or other use cases even if better for weapon aiming and not other use cases (even PSVR1, it was fair and PSVR2 the controls for some games went backwards and made themselves worse, how did games like Red Steel 2 by Ubisoft or others on Wii (Move on PS3 I found a pain to setup and also had bad controls, Wii I got less annoyed with the controls devs made for it, shovelware yes.

But besides those never been that annoyed with them, even using a HTC Vive with Half Life Alyx I still went wow I can actually understand the gestures that are new here compared to others no where near this in other games in VR let alone even those on Wii/PS3.

I even preferred motion and buttons over the GameCube layouts in Wii games/ports when they offered it, varied per use case though, and that was even when they had right stick use cases that were fun for games that didn't use the right stick as the camera back then (I mean Pitfall Lost Expedition/Big Adventure as have PS2 and Wii versions, or you had your God of War PS2 dodging or others with combat with the right stick or skating games and it's nowadays just Knack or No Man's Sky sprint on the R3 or whatever, maybe in modern skating games but I have no idea, other then say Echoes of the End having it for it's magic use cases with it's level design or to fling a rock/brick at enemies aka a core mechanic using the right stick), whilst it's rare nowadays)

I find PSVR2 games really don't make better use of the fewer buttons/motion and Wii games made a brilliant design of use cases and others go we need realism motion and push the motion controls to their limits in bad ways again, Sony could offer more buttons but even still it's just a joke).

Part 2:
The PS camera was fair, remote play casting was fair (heck even Portal lacking dual screen makes me kind of sad compared to the Playlink PS4 party games or Vita use cases). Even Vita's 360p/540p options while Portal to my knowledge only has it for streaming, which I don't have in my region, so the base device doesn't have the settings, it would be the 480p to 1080p/4K of the console, which isn't the same.

I'd say their studios have somewhat used the Dualsense more then they did the Dualshock 4 but even still it does feel lacking. But I don't play PS5 1st party and didn't care for as much of the PS4 era IPs, I went for the niche ones that died out nowadays, so I mostly know from others playing PS5 instead.

Switch 1 varies and even then I found Nintendo barely used IR in smart ways at all, the HD Rumble was pathetic and less fun then Xbox One/Series Impulse Triggers or Dualsense Haptics (I still hate Microsoft went lets have Impulse Triggers to Xbox One, great feature, no one talks about as they didn't own an Xbox One or if they did even collectors never point it out in Gears for it's reload minigame mechanic or Forza's brake guidance or any others, like come on I love those features using it.

Now lets add a share button for Series S/X, sigh) creative different ways like Labo or Brain Age/Training or 3rd parties did for a light in the dark or other things, yes but good ones for even basic principles of Wiimote like use or other cases, NO. Not at all. Cutting the IR made me mad too.

Not sure about a touch screen, it's just easier for them via software and they can't be bothered with modules on the hardware end.

If it was hardware it'd be cooler, but touch screen other then easier for people used to them I hate slipping when playing anything with a smartphone. You get better grip with a physical input not a screen and slipping/sliding or not enough pressure or anything else of inputs a screen is limited by. Also really not great motion control use either other then 180 video and that's it.

Awful idea - for the same reason I refuse to use those godawful Apple Magic Mouse things. Apart from the charger port being on the bottom (don't get me started), as a repro industry professional of over 20 years, I simply refuse to use touch controls for basic tool interaction, selection and movement, preferring a tactile response or 'pushback' from my buttons and scroll wheels that lets me feel more connected to what I'm actually doing. Otherwise I might as well just be waving my hands in the air. Less isn't always more....

Would be kinda hilarious, if this actually was the bundled controller, with PS6 🤣
But no, touch controlls are terrible.
No tactile feedback, and you can't feel if your thumbs are actually touching the "buttons" or not. Doubt this will be made at all. There's an insane amount of patents being made every day, that are just concepts and crazy ideas, and "just in case we'll make one".

Let's put glass backs on the controllers too! Gross.

Tactile buttons for me every day please. If this becomes real I’m ok as long as there’s a “normal” controller option with buttons etc.

There's a reason Xcloud didn't take off on mobile, no one wants to play games using a touchscreen. You spend most of the time missing the inputs and have to keep checking where they are before you press. That's why most avid mobile gamers use a proper controller attachment.

I just want my stick placement akin to an Xbox controller and I’ll be good.

@somnambulance Also if we get a touch screen controller they want to save money with software then hardware parts, I don't think it's just a case of 'oh we want smartphone gamers to come over.

I am not big on the mouse mode, I think they were out of ideas and had to have a gimmick and couldn't come up with anything. They went eh we did mice in the past, or we have this IR/laser tech lets rebrand it. I think it's a joke personally. The amount of grip a mouse has and shape is better for a reason, the Joycons show their limits for sure. I don't think ti's impressive at all. XD

Yeah I think a two separate hands or two handed offer benefits for their separation it just varies per what the game is going for to immerse players or how it feels to hold them/move them.

Yeah Switch is an ok platform, fair for handheld play/TV, fair for Vita owner type games of interest among other things. I preferred Wii U, it isn't perfect but I just had more fun with it.

I miss the more experimental or more varied Japan/Western studios games of the PS1 to PS3/PSP/Vita era too. PS4 was fair, not my preferred generation but a fair one still of games and peripherals or software features.

I think Nintendo it's clear, unless the engineers have anything or the programmers otherwise Furukawa isn't going to make them push for much. Iwata was better at that of more wacky ideas even if they didn't all work many did and were fun.

I think a touchscreen for smartphone gamers or 'software and saving cost on hardware' is an excuse. Mobile makers do it and look where we sare. Many use software as a cost cutting excuse of better design.

Try sliding your fingers and thumbs on glass it's terrible.

Playing even emulated games on a phone is bad, let alone any PS4 or PS5 games.

We didn't get the touchpad with a touch screen, Vita it made sense for minor use cases to throw a grenade or use other things on other minor things. Not major core way inputs.

Also Sony forgets how many devs use the touchpad as a touchpad, rarely to NONE. So I think Sony needs to get this, they use it as a Select button, not touch screen uses, not the touchpad halves, so they want to have a patent for a feature barely used and for software versus hardware to cut costs and for smartphone gamers. They clearly don't think. It's a patent but I mean did they think at all. XD

I think it's an excuse really.

The 90s orb PC controller wasn't great while analogue sticks were. So a gripable design is a joke really, they tried it then and it didn't work, no matter the degrees of motion it really didn't work well, neither did many glove controllers and so on (if they want realism sure, if they want it to work for jobs with steady motions sure but don't apply it to games, apply it like Kinect did for medical use instead).

Whether for 3D ship games with that level of moment on PC/PS1 or otherwise. They had their purpose or fun and few offer it these days in flight games scifi or planes and such. But even besides Train controllers. There is a reason why Joysticks worked for flight games instead not a gripable design.

Adaptive difficulty has a place, but the controller doing that the same way Nintendo does the 15 minute break ever since Virtual Boy, is just not a thing Sony needs.

I sweat not from being tense, so if I am doing a puzzle for another player and them cleaning their controller and their difficulty changes that's not very fair is it?

I don't sweat because I'm tense, it's the gripping of the controller for so long. Think Sony.

Adaptive difficulty for easy mode yes, telling players how to do basic things because they can't work out how games work or test easy areas, more complex areas and more they don't think that far no matter what you tell them, you can but to a point.

(have other references or lives and don't think how a game works) or what a game is telling them to do with the character speaking or other things, or players not paying attention and second screening among other things and so on sure.

I mean how many pay attention to 'this is the rules of the game mechanics and level design' versus other things of combat/dialogue, or a button mentioned to interact. Or what it looks like that is more human easily understand. No wonder we have dumbed down movesets for humans/animals is games were more complex and we had to dumb them down not just for realism but audiences. Or because they are 'grounded humans' and 'grounded animals' then the past.

Part 2:
It's up to dev communication in the game physically with the controller or software prompts or skip features or hints or whatever. Or better teach the player how things work, you can't tell dumb people to think outside the box and with the rules sometimes.

I know teaching someone how to play Echoes of the End, I worked it out and some things I need a walkthrough but not all of it, because some people don't pay attention to what it's teaching them. That's on the player not the developer for the player's stupidity or other things they focus on mindset.

If I can work this out why can't devs? Why can't they work out with their family members, or videos online that do so with their non gaming family members, or other variety of QA.

It's up to the players sechond screening or not paying attention to what it's visually telling them not always spoken or paint yellow and white (that they may also never notice or remember they were told that's what it's for in the game) among other things. It's up to players that don't pay attention, it can't be helped.

Heck I launch games to make sure they work or change settings. That doesn't mean I hate the game, or don't know what to do on the menus. XD

I don't always get bored either. I just have other games I want to focus on or come back to a game later when I feel like it.

Do they need to have a feedback box when I launch the game, or an email to my PSN/Nintendo accounts? Or one to the console dashboard as to why? So devs and publishers have a more clear idea why?

Not a fan of touchscreen controls. I don’t mind the adaptability mindset, but I prefer a tactile button system. I like to feel the click under my fingers. In fact, the base DualSense that come with my PS5 has buttons which are too soft and ‘squishy’ and I like my newer pad which clicks a little when I press the buttons

I think the Dualsense is already a great controller, and instead of introducing a buttonless controller, they should make it mandatory for developers to use all the dualsense features, which are currently not being fully utilised. How about replacing the Dualsense with the Dualsense Edge, which is a much better controller.

The idea of a buttonless design is silly. Feeling physical buttons is important. Not having a button there risks missing a button or pressimg the wrong one.

If there aren't physical buttons, how would you know what button you're pressing without looking at the controller? With physical buttons, you can feel what you're pressing, so you don't have look at it to know what you're pressing.

If it's just for the analogue sticks, then it could work for me as I won't need to feel that, just slide thumb at any direction. But for dpad and face buttons, I would need to feel what I'm pressing.

@Yaycandy Based on the VGC article, this patent is from 2023, not 2013.

Sony's controllers peaked with the ever-comfortable DS4 but this looks like they'd be replacing some physical buttons/sticks with touch screens?
That's one of the reasons I don't play games on my smartphone or my tablet due to a lack of physical controls so it's a pass from me thanks.

Literally everyone: eww no, I'd never say never but in this once instance, absolutely f'n not.

Sony: we heard you, I think the fans want it. We'll make it even faster.

Stupid idea ,if they want to use this tech , use it for the touch pad , turn it into a little screen , you could have a keyboard appear , maybe a little pen concealed in the controller , or turn the screen into short gaming related videos or images , you could customise the colour , its a better idea than this stupid crap

If i could move the left thumb stick up and the D pad down i would not only buy the PS6 of course but it would be my main console over Xbox for shooters. I doubt we see this as Sony will play it safe with PS6 to reach mass numbers. But i would support it.

Touch buttons and joysticks is the dumbest idea ever for controller. Physical ones you feel under fingers, touch buttons not possible. I hope this is not serious.

Way to make me feel like a 37 year old grandpa, Sony. 😂

Probably for mobile gamers or those who are used to it which they can use for PS consoles and for mobile phones/tablets.

Oh, heck no.

One of the reasons I prefer a controller to my phone screen is the tactile buttons on a controller. I don't want a controller with virtual buttons as the primary, any more than I want a car with the AC and radio control only on a video panel. Tactile buttons are superior.

This could be useful for software to let your phone act as a controller, but that's it.