Sony Interactive Entertainment has been granted a patent that looks like a controller for mobile phone games. Though it’s not a particularly original idea, as it looks like it works like just about any other third-party mobile controller out there.
VGC reports that the patent was published this week by the company’s Japanese division. And it describes a mobile controller that clamps your phone in between, with the handles on either side looking like a DualShock 4 controller. Though for a PlayStation use case scenario, it could also involve Remote Play. The very first image in the patent filing also describes the setup being used with a TV with some sort of console attached.
In a sense, this idea is an improvement on its current implementation, which is to clamp your phone to a DualShock 4 controller via a special mount. But beyond that and its very recogniseable DualShock 4 look, it is basically the company’s own version of other mobile controllers already in the market. Prominent examples include the Razer Kishi.
Though at the same time, it’s worth noting that, with the popularity of the Nintendo Switch in recent days, accessory makers tend to copy that button layout, as in reversing the position of the d-pad and left stick. But if you must have the PlayStation layout for your mobile games, this may add another option to the market.
That being said, this is still just a patent for now. As is the case with patents, it remains to be seen when, or if, Sony will turn this into something that people can actually buy.
