The New Sony Controller will Feature Keys with Varying Stiffness

Sony continues to experiment with unconventional ideas for future PlayStation controllers. The company’s recent patents aren’t just about classic hardware improvements. It appears they’re working on new technologies that could directly alter the player’s experience through physical sensations. This latest patent points to a system that could change not only the feel of the buttons but also the contact the player makes with them.

Sony Working on a Controller with Buttons That Can Stiffen

According to a new patent spotted by Cheat Happens, Sony is designing a controller with buttons whose stiffness can be changed using magnets. This system could make buttons easier or harder to press depending on the situation in the game. For example, in a scene where a weapon jams, the reload button could stiffen, physically making the player feel it.

This idea is quite similar to the adaptive triggers in the DualSense controller that came with the PlayStation 5. DualSense triggers can change their resistance level according to the action on the screen. However, the difference in the new patent is that this time, the goal is to achieve variable stiffness not only in the triggers but also in the regular buttons. In other words, the controller could offer a wider range of physical feedback.

The most interesting detail in the patent is that the buttons could almost grip the player’s finger. According to the description, the buttons could first soften, allowing the finger to sink in, then harden, creating a feeling of being held. This system seems like a useful idea, especially when a character is caught by an enemy in the game.

Of course, it’s not certain that this technology will actually be included in the PlayStation 6 or other Sony hardware. Companies frequently obtain experimental patents, and a significant portion of them never reach the market. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Sony wants to take tactile feedback in controllers even further.

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