On Dec. 26, Sony was approved for a patent on a new type of PlayStation controller. The patent is on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database, but it isnt quite clear what Sony intends to do with the controller.
The design itself is similar to the familiar DualShock 4 design that most players are used to with the PlayStation 4. The new controller has the same layout for its face buttons, directional pad, and analog sticks. The only real departure on the front of the controller is that theres no PlayStation button visible on the patent design.
The back of the controller is where things get a little more interesting. The patent contains potential designs for the new controller though they arent final that include two new buttons. The new buttons appear to be programmable to perform the functions of other buttons on the controller, so you could have them do the same thing as the circle or square buttons if you wanted.
Image: Sony via WIPO
The two back buttons can be activated with triggers in most of the proposed designs. While they seem to be located directly behind the analog sticks on most of the proposed layouts in the patent, there is mention that they might move to other places. This could mean that the controller is customizable, or just that Sony wants to cover its bases for possible design iterations.
While this new patents timing is a little conspicuous considering the PlayStation 5 is set to come out in 2020, there is no indication which PlayStation this controller is actually designed for. Its worth noting that the proposed design does feature a micro-USB port on the top of the controller, the same as the DualShock 4, while the PlayStation 5 controller is supposed to have a USB-C port instead, so its possible this is an iteration of the older controller.
The idea of placing customizable triggers on the back of controller isnt new. SCUFs PlayStation controllers and Microsofts Xbox Elite controllers also feature customizable triggers. Sony has never created its own first-party controller with this feature, though.
Sony announced in December its releasing a new peripheral called the Back Button Attachment, which adds programmable paddles to the back of a standard DualShock 4 controller. Its expected to launch in January 2020 for $29.99. Its possible Sony is using this peripheral to make PS4 controllers compatible with the upcoming console, especially if Sonys new patented design is for a PlayStation 5 controller.
Because this design is just a patent, theres no guarantee the controller will actually be released. Sony could just be locking down a potential design for the future.