PS6 could end up with one of the strangest game controllers in console history
With the PS6 still thought to be years away, Sony appears to be exploring some radical ideas to set its next console generation apart. While rumours continue to swirl around a potential handheld companion and broader backward compatibility, one of the most unusual changes may come in the form of the controller itself.
Sony has had a patent approved for a new DualSense-style gamepad that completely removes physical buttons. Instead, the controller relies on customisable touchscreen surfaces to handle all inputs.
The patent, issued last week and spotted by VGC, shows a controller that closely resembles the current PS5 DualSense in shape, but without thumbsticks or traditional buttons. In their place are two touch panels, allowing players to create their own button layouts and D-pad configurations.
This setup could be tailored on a per-game basis, meaning players could design controls specifically suited to individual titles. Beyond flexibility, the approach could also offer accessibility benefits, especially for players who find smaller physical buttons difficult to use.
There are obvious downsides, however. Anyone who has tried to play fast-paced action games on a touchscreen will know how easy it is to miss inputs without the tactile feedback of real buttons. While haptic feedback could help compensate, it’s unlikely to fully replace the feel of a physical D-pad or thumbstick.
That said, touchscreen controls could be better suited to mouse-style inputs, as seen with the controller design for Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine.
It’s also possible that Sony could combine both approaches, offering traditional physical controls alongside customisable touch panels, delivering a best-of-both-worlds solution.
Of course, patents don’t always translate into real-world products. Many concepts are filed, explored, and ultimately abandoned before reaching consumers. Whether this button-free DualSense ever makes it into players’ hands remains to be seen.
For now, it’s another intriguing glimpse into how far Sony might be willing to go to redefine the PlayStation experience in the next generation.