Sony Patents PlayStation Controller That Grips and Releases Your Fingers Mid-Game

Your next PlayStation controller might do more than vibrate. It could grab your fingers… like literally. That’s according to a recently spotted Sony patent, which outlines a concept for a PlayStation controller with buttons that dynamically change their firmness and, in some cases, physically hold a player’s finger in place to mirror actions happening in a game.

Sony patents a controller design than can literally grasp your fingers mid-game

The patent, first spotted by Cheat Happens, describes a system that uses magnetic mechanisms to alter the hardness of individual buttons in real time (via Dextero). The idea builds on the adaptive trigger technology introduced with the DualSense controller but pushes tactile feedback much further.

Wondering how exactly everything would work? Well, rather than simply increasing resistance, the controller’s buttons could soften, allowing a player’s finger to sink into them before hardening again. According to the patent filing, the effect could create a sensation that the controller is “grasping” the user’s finger.

That opens the door to some unusual gameplay scenarios. A reload button could become harder to press when a weapon jams, while an action button could temporarily hold a player’s finger to simulate being grabbed by an enemy.

Other recent patents from Sony

This isn’t the first patent from Sony that hints at some unusual mechanism or design. Earlier this year, a patent from Sony hinted at a PS6 controller with a buttonless, adaptive design. Not to forget, Sony is also experimenting with PiP vertical video feeds like TikTok for PlayStation’s waiting screen.

All that said, patents don’t guarantee that a product will see the light of day. Companies often explore ideas years before deciding whether they fit into future hardware plans.