Sony has showcased a concept for a futuristic PlayStation controller in a new video. The company recently held a corporate strategy meeting outlining Sony's long-term creative vision for the next ten years, and the technological advancements it'll make to further bolster that vision.

Sony has a well-established reputation for consistently innovating in controller and input technology. PlayStation controllers over the years have always brought clever features to the table, whether it's the DualShock 3's SixAxis motion aiming, the DualShock 4's integrated touchpad, or the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the critically acclaimed DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5. Looking forward, the company seems intent on innovating, as depicted by a futuristic controller concept during its recent long-term strategy meeting.

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The "Creative Entertainment Vision" segment of the meeting shows a quick snippet of a controller that departs significantly from the traditional PlayStation controller design. Resembling a handheld console more than a controller, it ditches the familiar analog sticks, d-pad, and buttons. In their place, the controller features circular touchpads that could potentially offer new control options and greater flexibility, but at the cost of the tactility of proper physical buttons. The concept's color also brings to mind the metallic Sterling Silver colorway for the DualSense controller, which was released last year.

The Concept Could Hint to a Future PlayStation Cloud Gaming Handheld

However, the most striking element of the new-age controller is the circular holographic projector located at its center. Binning the central touchpad and ancillary buttons, the hollow ring seemingly projects an Augmented Reality (AR) screen on which users can play games. This suggests Sony may be looking into integrating AR technology in some capacity for future PlayStation console and/or controller iterations. Given the compact form factor of the controller, though, it seems unlikely to be able to run games natively, so it leans towards more of a future PlayStation Portal concept than a dedicated handheld console.

While the implications for the device are tremendous, it's important to note that it's ultimately a concept, not a confirmed product design. Sony has a history of showcasing unconventional controller concepts, such as the wacky boomerang controller for the PS3. These concepts often serve as a springboard for future innovation, but don't necessarily translate directly to the final product. However, it does prove Sony's long-term intent to consistently bring new technology to the PlayStation platform and its commitment to pushing the limits of player immersion. Considering the recent rumors of PlayStation working on a new handheld console, this concept could be a veritable hint to the company's future hardware plans.

Sony

Date Founded

May 7, 1946

Headquarters

Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Subsidiaries

Sony Pictures , Sony Interactive Entertainment , Sony Imagesoft , Sony Online Entertainment

Consoles

PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , PSP

Known For

PlayStation