PlayStation is one of the world's largest video game brands, being a dominant force in the console industry for nearly three decades. It seems like the brand may be returning to the on-the-go gaming scene as a new patent suggests a PlayStation-styled mobile controller is in development.
In the current smartphone and Cloud-streaming era, the age of dedicated mobile gaming devices has seeming come and gone. Xbox has been leading the charge in this front, making the majority of its content accessible from anywhere at anytime through xCloud, a service that lets users stream games using dedicated Microsoft servers. PlayStation offers a similar service known as PS Remote Play, though it does not use reserved servers at Sony, but actually a user's own PS4 or PS5, making a solid internet connection on both ends absolutely necessary to get the most out of it. Players can even sync their DualShock 4 or DualSense controller to their phone to play their games as well.
A new patent from Sony seems to indicate a DualShock 4-inspired mobile controller could be on its way. Originally spotted by Andy Robinson by VGC, the patent is for a gamepad that that attaches to a mobile device, and was filed earlier this week by Sony Interactive Entertainments Japanese division. As Robinson points out, the gamepad features left and right grips that are modelled after the PS4's DualShock 4 controller instead of the PS5's DualSense, evident by the shap of controller's wings and button layout. Not shown in the patent's drawings is a shaft portion between the two grips that allows users to change the viewing angle of their device.
The development of this gamepad comes after Sony announced its new pursuit into the mobile gaming market. This past October Sony hired Nicola Sebastiani to lead PlayStation Studio's Mobile division, who spent the last eight years at Apple in its own mobile game department. PlayStation's appearance on mobile devices has varied, there being some games like Run Sackboy! Run and Uncharted: Fortune Hunter being produced, but it has primarily focused on companion apps like God of War - Mimir's Vision. Sony recently announced Wipeout Rush, a card based racing game based on the classic PlayStation franchise to scathing fan reception.
A DualShock 4 mobile gamepad would be a neat accessory for those who take advantage of PS Remote Play, but there are some concerns that already come to mind. For example, will this device only be compatible with PlayStation's mobile games or will developers have to start introducing new options that would be specific for this gamepad? This may be a moot point anyways, as not every mobile game has controller support. Either way, this patent is further proof of Sony's resolve in expanding the PlayStation brand to mobile.
Source: VGC