Sony Could Be Working on a Customizable Controller With a Wii U-Style Screen
New patents potentially reveal that PlayStation parent company Sony has a customizable controller in the works that features a screen a la the Wii U.
gamerant.com
According to recently revealed patents, Sony has a new customizable controller in the works that features a “swappable, rotatable button cluster” and a “customizable touch interface.” For many gamers, these words conjure visions of the disastrous Wii U that has trapped games to this day. But these patents reveal that Sony has plans to make this new controller fair better than its Nintendo predecessor.
The patents reveal that the controller’s “customizable touch interface” refers to UI elements on the screen. In theory, players would be able to change certain visual elements on the screen, allowing for controls that players could tweak to their own personal style. This could also refer to customizable actions such as swiping in a certain direction to reload a weapon or use a special. It could even refer to allowing developers to alter the screen for various purposes, such as in Hideo Kojima's rumored Silent Hill entry.
The controller will also feature a “swappable, rotatable button cluster.” While it is not entirely clear what this could mean, it is clear that player customization appears to be the primary focus of this controller. The button cluster in question appears to be configurable in a number of ways. The implications of this are vague, but exciting. If the controller is too unwieldy for certain players to use, as was a complaint levied against the Wii U, some of its issues could be resolved simply by allowing players the freedom to customize their controls.
