A recently published patent filing from Sony is raising eyebrows, as it looks to completely revolutionize immersive gaming with a flat controller comprised of connecting nodes that could be used to change the way developers approach gameplay design. Sony has filed dozens of patents for various controller designs over the years, often blending innovation with accessibility, and this latest technology registration is once again giving players a peek behind the curtain of the Japanese conglomerate's research and development efforts.
One of the biggest names in gaming, Sony has contributed to the evolution of technology across industries for decades, ranging from televisions and smartphones to the PlayStation series of gaming consoles. While many unique Sony video game patents detail products that remain undeveloped as consumer goods, these documents do offer a deeper insight into the company's ambitions and potential changes that could impact the way players experience games.
Sony Wants to Use the PS5 Controller to Output Braille
A recently published Sony patent reveals development on a controller integration that would output braille, increasing accessibility for players.
According to a patent filed by Sony in September 2022 and published on July 16, 2025, the gaming giant is working on developing a controller comprised of connecting nodes that would allow players to manipulate the device in a way that grants more immersion and accessibility than a standard gamepad. The flat, square nodes can be attached and detached from one another via connectors, allowing the user to reform and reshape the controller to achieve certain actions or to suit their personal range of motion. Each individual node would provide haptic feedback, making the entire device capable of outputting realistic sensations such as vibration, tension, and more. Developers could utilize the immersion granted by these connecting nodes instead of relying on the more limited button-presses and control stick movements present in existing Sony video game controllers.
Sony Connecting-Nodes Controller Patent Details
Some of the ways games could take advantage of the Sony connecting-nodes controller include having players physically bend the device to mimic an in-game character twisting a piece of metal or pulling against the haptic feedback of the nodes to replicate a game protagonist pulling open a gate to enter a new area. In addition to the added immersion, the ability to reshape the device to allow for more fluid movement could increase accessibility for players who would otherwise be unable to hold or use a standard controller. While the connecting-nodes controller design is very promising, it is key to note that this and other Sony gaming technology patents are never a guarantee that a product will be made available to the public.
As video game companies work to make gaming more immersive and accessible, technology like the connecting-nodes controller and other unique gaming patents by Sony are a reminder that technology is always evolving, even if only behind closed doors. Whether this controller or other devices patented by Sony will ever see the light of day remains to be seen, but interested fans can follow along for more insights into innovations that could shape the future of gaming.
- Date Founded
- May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
- Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
- Subsidiaries
- Sony Pictures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Imagesoft, Sony Online Entertainment
- Consoles
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PSP
- Known For
- PlayStation