Sony is trying to patent its rear button attachment for the PlayStation 4

Sony has applied for a patent for its rear button accessory, the additional accessory for the DualShock 4 announced in 2019 that adds programmable buttons below the controller. The depot, spotted by IGN, does not call the device by its existing name, but rather describes the product as an add-on with buttons that “can be mapped to controller buttons using custom button mapping presets” and has a number of diagrams showing how it works.

What the patent application means for Sony is not immediately clear. The request, which has yet to be granted, was first filed in the United States in the summer of 2019, before Sony filed it internationally in June of last year. It offers no indication that this device might arrive on the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller, as the diagrams show what appears to be an older DualShock 4 device and does not describe any corresponding function with the new console’s gamepad or the new console. one of its unique characteristics.

What should be noted is that there is increasing pressure on litigation around the market for professional controllers containing programmable rear pallets. Valve was fined $ 4 million last week for the design of its Steam Controller in a lawsuit brought by Scuf and Ironburg Inventions, two subsidiaries of gaming peripherals maker Corsair. Scuf also grants its technology, which includes its intellectual property and patents, to Microsoft from 2015 for the Elite controller line from manufacturer Xbox, which includes programmable rear paddles similar to the devices Scuf sells.

There is no indication that Sony’s actions, which again date back to June 2019 at the earliest in the case of the US version of this patent application, have any connection to any pending or past lawsuits or licensing agreements. But it’s a good idea for a business to patent its intellectual property in a competitive space, especially if it wants to protect its product line and future versions.

The back button attachment, announced in late 2019, is Sony’s low-cost alternative to a suitable professional controller. It costs just $ 30 and adds programmable buttons under the DualShock 4 that let you remap crucial functions reserved, for example, to the X or O buttons. In turn, this allows you to trigger associated actions in the game without remove your thumbs on the joystick. In a smart move, Sony opted for smooth handle-shaped knobs that don’t float on the controller, unlike the more popular floating paddle design, which means they’re less prone to breaking.

Image: Sony

Additional programmable buttons can provide a noticeable advantage when playing competitive high stakes games. Before the rear button was attached, PlayStation fans had to rely on third-party manufacturers for programmable rear paddles and other professional controller features like customizable controllers.

While some fans may have wanted the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller to come with removable rear paddles, Sony didn’t end up doing that when the gamepad was unveiled last year and finally released. with the new console in November. And due to the shape of the device, the existing back button attachment does not work on it. No one can guess if we see an upgraded version of the accessory for the DualSense, but it would be nice to have it.

Correction: An earlier version of this story indicated that the patent application might suggest that Sony is working on a version of the rear button attachment for the PS5’s DualSense controller. There is no indication that this is true, and we’ve updated the story and its title to reflect this and to include new information regarding a lawsuit won by Corsair against Valve. We regret the error.