Sony has filed a patent application for PlayStation controller buttons that can harden or soften based on the context of the game or app being played. While Sony hasn't announced any new controllers with these buttons, the new PlayStation patent could make the next generation of Sony controllers stand out from the competition.
Since PlayStation's familiar DualShock and DualSense controllers have been available, each generation has seen some distinct changes. With the PS5's DualSense controller, Sony included features like adaptive triggers to give players a little extra resistance when firing a weapon in specific games. In comparison, the DualSense Edge controller offers additional customization options, including additional back buttons and interchangeable thumbsticks that can be used to suit each user's personal taste.
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Sony's patent shows how creative controller buttons can be
While Sony has recently filed for an AI patent that can play ads during loading screens, the gaming giant has also filed for a new patent for a potential control feature. Sony's patent for control buttons was filed in November 2024 and published over a year later in May 2026. According to the information in the application, the physical characteristics of the control buttons can be changed. The patent lists several ways this could be done, such as using an elastomer that changes how much force is required to complete a button press based on magnets in the button itself. Another approach uses membranes filled with a liquid-like substance to achieve a similar effect. But the longevity and durability of any button that incorporates a liquid membrane makes it an unlikely candidate for Sony to use.
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Additionally, the button patent can be used to create an effect where the button hardens around a player's finger. This effect can be used to simulate if a character is stuck and requires more force than usual to move or regain control. Given that DualSense's L2 and R2 adaptive triggers can change how they feel based on the context of a game, other buttons on a PlayStation controller could be made with similar functions in mind. By comparison, an earlier control patent filed by Sony listed some deformable buttons. These buttons are connected to an interconnected grid of flexible shafts, which can then be squeezed, twisted or pulled for different uses.
Although PlayStation released an accessibility controller kit designed for gamers with disabilities, Sony has not released any controllers that use an interconnecting grid. Of course, not all unique PlayStation controller patents filed by Sony make it to market, and gamers should take most patent applications with a grain of salt. Given that adaptive triggers have been a hit with gamers, it stands to reason that Sony would run with a similar concept for future control patents.
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Although the PS6 is still in active development, Sony has kept a tight lid on the console's planned features. Although the PS6 is still years away from release, it remains to be seen if Sony's controller button patent will be utilized by the upcoming console in some capacity.
