Sony Patents Buttonless PlayStation Controller With Touch And Gesture Input

Buttonless PlayStation Controller: Sony has filed a patent for a new design that makes the PlayStation controller look futuristic and doesn’t have any buttons or thumbsticks. Instead, the controller is totally controlled by touch and gesture input on its surface. Filed in 2023, and granted last week, the patent outlines a controller design that suggests players would be able to customise their control layout digitally. That’s far from a confirmation of a retail product, but it shows Sony is still considering new ways to interact with future gaming hardware.

Buttonless Controller Design

The controller would rely on an optical sensor to read user input, according to the patent. It can register:

- Touch

- Tap

- Swipe

- Press

- Pinch

- Joystick-style gestures

The inputs would be detected on one or more surfaces of the controller that could effectively replace buttons and analogue sticks with touch screen-like controls.

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Customisable Control Layout

Sony explains that traditional controllers may feel too small, too large, or uncomfortable for some users. With a touch-based design, players could:

- Resize or remove virtual buttons

- Move controls to different positions

- Create layouts based on hand size or game type

The controller was also capable of saving multiple layout profiles and automatically loading the user’s preferred config when it identified them.

Additional Sensors and Features

The patent further mentions that the controller may include:

- A pressure sensor to detect how hard the surface is pressed

- A temperature sensor to monitor the condition of the input area

- These additions could improve accuracy and durability while enabling more precise control responses.

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Future PlayStation Controller Possibilities

It’s still not confirmed if Sony’s planning on using this design for a future console; say, the PlayStation 6. As with many patents, the idea may never make it to consumers. And Sony has a history of pushing some big controller upgrades with each console generation; the DualSense for the PS5 introduced adaptive triggers and advanced haptics. The DualSense has a touchpad, but traditional buttons are still retained on the current-day gamepad.