Sony has applied for a patent PlayStation Controller buttons that can be hard or soft based on the context of the game or app. Although Sony hasn't announced any new controllers with these buttons, a new PlayStation patent could set Sony's next generation of controllers apart from the competition.
Since PlayStation's familiar DualShock and DualSense controllers became available, each generation has seen a few different changes. With the PS5's DualSense controller, Sony has included features like adaptive triggers to give players some extra resistance when wielding weapons in specific games. By comparison, the DualSense Edge controller offers additional customization options, including additional back buttons and thumb sticks that can be used to each user's personal taste.
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Sony's patent shows how creative the controller buttons could be
While Sony recently filed for an AI patent that can play ads on loading screens, the gaming giant has also applied for a new patent for a potential controller feature. Sony's controller button patent was filed in November 2024 and published a year later in May 2026. According to information provided in the filing, the controller buttons may change their physical properties. The patent lists several ways this can be done, such as using an elastomer that changes how much force is needed to complete a button press based on a magnet inside the button. Another approach uses membranes filled with a liquid-like substance to achieve the same effect. However, the longevity and durability of any button that incorporates liquid membranes makes it an unlikely candidate for Sony to use.
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Additionally, the button can be used to create a patent effect where the button tightens around the player's finger. This effect can be used to simulate if a character is stuck and needs more force than normal to move or regain control. Given that DualSense's L2 and R2 adaptive triggers can change the way they feel based on the context of the game, other buttons on the PlayStation controller could be designed with similar functions in mind. By comparison, a previous controller patent filed by Sony listed some deformed buttons. These buttons are attached to an interlocking grid with flexible shafts, which can be pinched, twisted or pulled for various uses.
Although PlayStation has released an accessible controller kit designed for players with disabilities, Sony has not released any controllers that use the interlocking grid array. Of course, not every unique PlayStation controller feature patent filed by Sony makes 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 will run with a similar concept for future controller 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. Despite the fact that the PS6 is still years away from release, it remains to be seen whether Sony's controller button patent will be used in some capacity by the upcoming console.
