Sony Patents PlayStation Controller That Can Read Contactless Payments
Sony has filed a patent for a PlayStation controller that could take contactless payments. The design would read payment details from a nearby credit card or phone. Dexerto first highlighted the US filing.
Sony Interactive Entertainment filed the application last year. It was published this month. The title is “Video game controller-driven information transfer.” The text describes a controller that can detect an electronic device within a set distance. It would then read the user’s payment method and send that data to the paired PlayStation console.
Cards or phones could link through NFC or Bluetooth. After a successful read, the controller could beep, flash a light, or vibrate. Those signals would tell the player that payment information has been captured.
The patent says the feature could handle game purchases, game credits and in-app buys. It also mentions physical gift cards.
A patent is not a product plan. Sony may never ship this design. A future PlayStation controller could still adopt parts of the idea. The company usually adds new hardware features with each console generation.
Sony earlier received a separate patent for a button-less controller. That design would use optical sensors instead of fixed sticks and buttons. It would read touch, tap, swipe, press and pinch. Neither filing confirms a launch date or a final retail controller.
