Sony files a patent application for a new PlayStation controller that has buttons which include a strange and unique feature.
Sony has filed a patent application for PlayStation controller buttons that could harden or soften based on the context of the game or app being played. Although Sony has not announced any new controllers with these buttons, the new PlayStation patent could make the next generation of Sony’s controllers stand out from the competition.
Since the PlayStation’s familiar DualShock and DualSense controllers have been available, each generation has seen some distinct changes. With the PS5’s DualSense controller, Sony included features like adaptive triggers to give players some additional resistance when firing a weapon in specific games. By comparison, the DualSense Edge controller offers extra customization options, including additional back buttons and swappable thumb sticks that can be used to each user’s personal tastes.
Sony’s Patent Shows How Creative Controller Buttons Could Be
While Sony has recently filed for an AI patent that can play advertisements during loading screens, the gaming giant has also applied for a new patent for a potential controller feature. Sony’s controller button patent was filed in November 2024 and published over a year later in May 2026. According to the information provided in the filing, the controller buttons can have their physical properties altered. The patent lists several ways that this can be done, such as using an elastomer that changes how much force is needed to complete a button press based on magnets within the button itself. Another approach uses membranes filled with a fluid-like substance to achieve a similar effect. However, the longevity and durability of any button that includes fluid membranes makes it an unlikely candidate for Sony to utilize.
Additionally, the button patent can be used to create an effect where the button hardens up around a player’s finger. This effect can be used to simulate if a character is stuck and requires more force than usual to move or regain control. Given that the DualSense’s L2 and R2 adaptive triggers can change how they feel based on context in a game, other buttons on a PlayStation controller could be made with similar functions in mind. By comparison, a previous controller patent filed by Sony listed some deformable buttons. These buttons are connected to an interlocking grid with flexible shafts, which can then be pinched, twisted, or pulled for various uses.
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