Sony is working on a better version of the DualSense to make the PS5 controller even better. They might create a new DualSense controller that lights up its buttons to provide gameplay hints, as seen in recent patent documents.
It’s uncertain if this idea will become an actual product, but if it does, it could make PlayStation gaming easier for everyone. The DualSense, which came out in late 2020 with the PlayStation 5, improved upon the earlier DualShock 4 from the PS4.
Sony’s Upcoming DualSense 2 Controller
This current-generation controller brought in features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and it also changed the microUSB port to a USB-C one. Sony is trying out an improved version of the DualSense, as indicated by a recent patent. This upgraded gamepad is meant to provide gameplay hints by illuminating its button faces.
The patent, obtained on November 30, talks about a predictive assistance system that uses a machine learning model to observe the player’s performance continuously. Its goal is to figure out when the player might need help.
If it detects that the player is about to encounter a challenge, the experimental system lights up the buttons to suggest the next move. The button hints could also be shown on the controller’s touchpad, which would act like a screen.
This isn’t the first hint suggesting that the DualSense 2 might have a touchscreen instead of a touchpad. Another similar patent appeared online in September. Concerning this concept, the controller wouldn’t just illuminate its buttons, including the shoulder triggers, but also both analog sticks.
The AI-powered mechanism deciding when to use this feature is relatively new, the idea of lighting up buttons for accessibility is not new. For example, modern Razer gaming keyboards support Razer Chroma Profiles, allowing developers and players to create unique color patterns that highlight mapped controls for each game.
Just because Sony has a patent doesn’t mean the technology will actually happen. This is especially true because Sony, as a major innovator in consumer electronics, submitted nearly 1,400 patents in 2022 alone, as per a recent Statista study. Many of these patents might not become real products anytime soon, or maybe not at all.
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