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Could the DualShock 4’s touchpad get replaced by a touchscreen?Sony Interactive Entertainment
As spotted on Reddit (via DualShockers), here’s the relevant portion of the filing’s abstract:
"[…] a touchscreen defined along the top surface of the main body between the first extension and the second extension; a first set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the first extension and on a first side of the touchscreen; and a second set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the second extension and on a second side of the touchscreen."
Based on the abstract alone, I can understand why portable gaming enthusiasts on Reddit believe this patent may point to a new PS Vita handheld, but that’s nothing more than wishful thinking. Page 3 of the complete patent filing clearly shows the DualShock controller design.
As you probably know, patent filings aren’t remotely proof of a forthcoming design nor evidence of a forthcoming product. This partially exists to protect an idea. But it does present a valid question: will the PS5 utilize a touchscreen in addition to traditional buttons?
I’ll let Michael Scott sum up my feelings about this:
Look, the PlayStation 4 may be handsomely winning the console war, but the DualShock 4 controller is subpar when it comes to battery life. It can be slightly improved by dimming the brightness of the touchpad, but it pales in comparison to the Xbox One controller. The last thing I want in my next-generation PlayStation console is an underutilized gimmick that destroys battery life. Even if Sony chose to embrace traditional, replaceable batteries instead of the rechargeable ones, a display is going to mean constantly relying on a long USB cable.
It also means a potential bottleneck in development time as game companies work to add another control scheme into their games.
Admittedly I love the idea of second-screen functionality (I adored the Dreamcast VMU during the days of wired controllers) but not at the expense of battery life. Sony, just give us mouthwatering graphics, 4K/60 performance, fast game installs, and keep the tried-and-true PlayStation exclusives rolling in.
But that’s just my opinion. What’s yours? Reach out to me on Twitter and tell me how you feel.
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An updated patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment has appeared on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, and it looks awfully similar to Sony’s existing DualShock controller design. Except there’s one key difference: a specific reference to an embedded touchscreen. Could this be a sign of what’s to come for Sony’s PS5?
Could the DualShock 4’s touchpad get replaced by a touchscreen?Sony Interactive Entertainment
As spotted on Reddit (via DualShockers), here’s the relevant portion of the filing’s abstract:
“[…] a touchscreen defined along the top surface of the main body between the first extension and the second extension; a first set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the first extension and on a first side of the touchscreen; and a second set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the second extension and on a second side of the touchscreen.”
Based on the abstract alone, I can understand why portable gaming enthusiasts on Reddit believe this patent may point to a new PS Vita handheld, but that’s nothing more than wishful thinking. Page 3 of the complete patent filing clearly shows the DualShock controller design.
As you probably know, patent filings aren’t remotely proof of a forthcoming design nor evidence of a forthcoming product. This partially exists to protect an idea. But it does present a valid question: will the PS5 utilize a touchscreen in addition to traditional buttons?
I’ll let Michael Scott sum up my feelings about this:
Look, the PlayStation 4 may be handsomely winning the console war, but the DualShock 4 controller is subpar when it comes to battery life. It can be slightly improved by dimming the brightness of the touchpad, but it pales in comparison to the Xbox One controller. The last thing I want in my next-generation PlayStation console is an underutilized gimmick that destroys battery life. Even if Sony chose to embrace traditional, replaceable batteries instead of the rechargeable ones, a display is going to mean constantly relying on a long USB cable.
It also means a potential bottleneck in development time as game companies work to add another control scheme into their games.
Admittedly I love the idea of second-screen functionality (I adored the Dreamcast VMU during the days of wired controllers) but not at the expense of battery life. Sony, just give us mouthwatering graphics, 4K/60 performance, fast game installs, and keep the tried-and-true PlayStation exclusives rolling in.
But that’s just my opinion. What’s yours? Reach out to me on Twitter and tell me how you feel.
