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Sony Patents Controller With Deformable Buttons To Let You Twist, Pitch, And Feel Gameplay
Story Highlight
- A new Sony patent discusses a grid-shaped controller with deformable buttons that lets you twist, pitch, and feel games.
- It offers greater freedom of manipulation with force-like tactile feedback depending on gameplay.
- The controller can simulate weight, friction, and impact with its buttons interconnected with shafts.
Controllers have come a long way. However, their buttons have not progressed much over the years, as they can only be pressed or released typically. Sony reportedly sees it as a major limiting factor, as it's exploring a new idea that changes buttons as we know them.
We have found a new Sony patent that discusses deformable buttons placed in a grid-shaped controller. These buttons can be twisted, pinched, elevated, and pushed, which introduces new layers of immersion that could never be considered before.
The controller features buttons or nodes interconnected via shafts to form a grid, which can be covered with a cloth-like deformable material.
The goal here is to dynamically simulate sensations beyond your typical haptic feedback, including force, weight, impact, and vibrations across buttons to achieve tactile feedback for improved immersion.
the manipulating device refers to a grid-shaped device having a plurality of node mechanisms and a plurality of link shafts. [It] is capable of making complex shape changes by way of extension, contraction, and bending.
Why it matters: Games could feel more immersive than ever, as the additional sensations and force-like feedback can make the controller feel like an extension of yourself.
The figure shows the insides of the controller, with buttons interconnected with shafts.
The patent called 'MANIPULATING DEVICE' describes a controller with nodes capable of making complex shape changes and obtaining a high degree of freedom. It'd feel natural in your hands and fit games of all genres, which Sony argues is much better than simple buttons.
Sony claims that gaming has evolved to the point that it needs to be 'able to express a variety of motions.'
Current controllers can't achieve this goal well enough; besides haptics, we lack all the aforementioned force-like sensations required for better immersion.
You may need to pull the button to jump in a game, for instance, while turning the camera may require you to twist it. Sony discusses the example of pulling a button to produce a volcano out of the terrain, while twisting it makes it erupt.
[It is of] such a size that opposite ends thereof can be gripped by the user with his/her both hands. [...] when the manipulating device is actually used by the user, it may be covered in its entirety with a cover of cloth.
The figure shows that twisting the button causes the volcano to explode in the game.
Lastly, the controller may also dynamically simulate sensations of gunfire, footsteps, water waves, earthquakes, and more through its grid-like surface.
Sony has published a variety of other unique patents in the past, such as one that discusses a method to transform phones into PlayStation controllers and another one that reveals a PSSR breakthrough to eliminate FPS drops in games.
Do you think this wild Sony controller will actually be viable outside of the concept? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
