Key Takeaways
- Sony recently filed a patent for light-up controller buttons.
- The design features lighting elements embedded within all input sources on the controller.
- When a required in-game action is sensed, the controller would highlight the input needed to complete the action, making games more accessible to a wider range of players.
Adding to a growing list of hardware design registrations, Sony has filed a technology patent for light-up controller buttons that could be implemented with its PlayStation DualSense controllers. Several dozen Sony patents have been filed in recent months, ranging from accessibility software to innovative hardware, and this latest publication is once again offering audiences a peek behind the curtain at the Japanese conglomerate’s research and development efforts.
Best known for the PlayStation console family, Sony has registered a variety of patents for video game technology over the years. Some of the more prominent video game patents by Sony have focused on implementing features to improve the gaming experience for its consumers, with a strong focus on accessibility. Following that same trend, this new controller patent from Sony looks to once again make video games more welcoming to a wider range of players.
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According to a Sony patent published on November 14, the Japanese company is looking at ways to add light-up buttons to its range of video game controllers. The design features lighting elements embedded within all input sources on the controller, including both joysticks, the directional pad, and the face buttons. When a required in-game action is sensed, the controller would highlight the input needed to complete the action, allowing the user to better see which buttons they need to press. This light-up controller design falls in line with similar accessibility efforts by Sony, though there is currently no guarantee that it will ever be fully developed and released to the public.
Sony Light-Up Controller Patent Details
Figures 3-6 of the Sony patent show how the light-up controller would assist players in knowing which buttons to press at any given time. Exploration sections would result in the joysticks and D-pad being highlighted, while dialogue and action sections would highlight the face buttons. For first-time players unfamiliar with the controller layout, the light-up buttons could help to make it easier to locate the correct inputs. Similarly, visually impaired players could benefit from light signals that improve button visibility on the controller, adding a greater degree of accessibility. While the light-up controller and other Sony video game hardware patents are very promising, fans will need to await an official announcement from the company before expecting to see any of these technological developments in stores.
With more companies prioritizing accessibility in video games, it is promising to see Sony continuing to explore more welcoming hardware designs in its research and development efforts. Interested players will want to stay tuned for any updates on the light-up controller and other exciting Sony patents.
Sony
- Date Founded
- May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
- Minato City, Tokyo, Japan