A new controller patent recently filed by Sony has been exposed, describing a PlayStation controller that can dynamically change the physical hardness of the buttons according to the game situation. This technology is similar to the "adaptive trigger" of the PS5 DualSense controller, but it expands the dimension of tactile feedback from the trigger button to all buttons.
According to the patent document, the device is capable of changing the "stiffness" of the buttons while the user is gaming. This means that just like adaptive triggers that change their press resistance based on on-screen events, every button on a future controller could become easier or harder to press depending on the game content.
One of the more interesting settings in the patent is described as a "finger grip" effect: when a finger presses a key, the key will first soften and then harden, giving the player a "caught" feeling. Another use case is to make the keys soft to fit the shape of the player's fingers, and then harden to "remember" this shape - achieving an experience similar to "custom molded keys".
The patent document also gives specific usage examples: when the player character touches a hard ground or object, the buttons will become harder; when the character is grabbed by an enemy or moves in a swamp, the buttons may produce a "grab" effect to enhance immersion. Some commentators ridiculed that if this kind of technology is used in adult-oriented games, it will probably have a different world.
In order to achieve this function, Sony has proposed a variety of technical solutions, including using magnetic viscoelastic elastomers to control the softness and hardness of the material by changing the strength of the magnetic field; another solution uses a fluid-filled membrane to change the touch feel of the keys through the flow of liquid.
Of course, it should be pointed out that game companies apply for a large number of patents every year, and the vast majority of them will not eventually enter the mass production stage. But this patent does reveal Sony’s cutting-edge exploration direction in the field of controller interaction. Previously, Sony had also applied for a patent for a controller that is deformable and changes temperature with the game, as well as a technology patent that uses AI and cameras to predict key input to reduce latency.