New PS5 Controller Patent Could Fix Big Problem PS4 Controller Had
The line of DualShock controllers, tracing back to the original PlayStation, have always had some form of complaints aimed at its size, so many thought it was likely to be the case for the PlayStation 5 as well. However, a new patent for a new type of PlayStation, potentially for the PS5, controller may aim to address some of those issues. The patent in question was filed by Sony on December 26th and shows off the potential addition of two big and two small buttons on the back of what appeared to be the Dualshock 4. However, as is the nature with patents, companies file them all the time, and this should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
This is not to say that every patent is immediately a dead end. Obviously, there are bound to be some patents found online that do lead to actual consumer products, such as the PlayStation Move controllers, but whether or not this new patent leads to the release of a new model of PlayStation controller remains to be seen.
The two big buttons are reportedly put in place to adjust the controller’s size to some degree. This means that players with bigger-than-average hands can adjust the controller’s gripability, and those with smaller hands can make the controller more comfortable to grasp. This thought could be the reason behind Sony’s idea in patenting this concept. This new type of controller would ostensibly make the PlayStation have a more accessible way for people to play, allowing newer consumers the chance to play as well. Though it is no Xbox Adaptive Controller, Sony would be tackling an accessibility issue that has been plaguing it for awhile - controller size.
Another thing to think about is the fact that the PS5 is scheduled to launch during the holiday season of 2020, so there is potential that this could be some sort of update to the PS5 controller. However, there are a few signs pointing to this patent being some update to the Dualshock 4 instead. The light bar and micro-USB port that are present in the PS4 controller are both in the patent as well.
Going by this fact, it is not out of the realm of possibility that this new type of controller might release within the next year, potentially before the launch of the PS5. With the PS4 having recently passed the 100 million units sold milestone, there is clearly every reason for Sony to continue marketing to the consumers that still own and play on that console, as the PS5 will take a few years to develop a strong enough base to make peripherals for.
Though the bigger buttons are supposedly meant to adjust the size of the controller to fit certain hands better, the smaller buttons are seemingly more traditional. This means that they could typically serve the same kind of function found in the back of the Xbox Elite series of controllers. Players could potentially assign the two buttons to function as other buttons, allowing for easier maneuverability in a lot of games, and for some simpler inputs in others.
Sony has been particularly interested in the back of its PlayStation controllers recently. After all, it only recently announced the new back button attachment for the Dualshock 4, which is set to hit stores in late January. The new attachment serves the same functions mentioned above, which is another more accessible method of playing.
One of the more peculiar aspects of the patent is that the front of the conceptualized PlayStation controller is missing the traditional PS home button that has been a staple of the console series since the PS3 generation. There is no telling what this could mean, other than it being a simple omission for simplicity’s sake on the part of Sony.
The PS5 is scheduled to launch holiday, 2020.
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