A recently revealed patent from Sony has drawn attention, describing an information transmission system supporting NFC, Bluetooth, and physical contact. In the future, PlayStation controllers might enable payments, gift card top-ups, and other operations by simply tapping a phone or bank card against them. After completing a transaction, the controller could provide feedback through lights, sounds, or vibrations, and relay payment information to the console. Currently, this technology appears to be Sony's exploration of future hardware interaction methods; if implemented, the PS6 would likely be the more suitable platform.
In addition to payment functions, the patent envisions various use cases, such as transmitting player IDs via the controller to help visitors quickly join multiplayer games, and sending screenshots and videos to mobile phones. Players experiencing games at stores or exhibitions might also be able to purchase games directly through the PlayStation mobile app by simply tapping their phone against the controller. Although Sony has continued to apply for various new controller patents in recent years, a patent does not guarantee that related features will become final products, so whether this "tap-to-pay" function will truly appear on future PlayStation hardware remains unknown.
The Gamer reports:
Sony may be exploring the addition of contactless payment features to future PlayStation hardware, likely the PS6. A newly published patent describes a controller that can accept payments, gift cards, and other data transmissions by simply tapping a phone or bank card directly against it.
The patent, first discovered by Dexerto, was published on September 17, 2026, but originally filed in March 2025. It outlines an "information transmission driven by video game controllers" system built around NFC, Bluetooth, or physical contact.
The accompanying diagrams illustrate several possible uses.One example is purchasing a game by tapping a phone against the controller. Another example is topping up gift cards by swiping a device, eliminating the need to manually enter long codes. When a phone is detected, the controller emits light, sound, or vibration as confirmation, then forwards the payment information to the console. Users receive receipt confirmation via email/communication preferences, completing the transaction.
Sony also detailed the non-payment features of this technology. For example, the controller can transmit player IDs to help visitors join multiplayer games, or send screenshots and video recordings from the console to a mobile phone. Imagine that after playing a game demo at a store or exhibition, players can simply tap their phone against the controller to purchase the game via the PlayStation mobile app and add it to their library.
Previous controller patents have hinted at features like rewind, adaptive buttons, and finger-grip feedback. For Sony, the next frontier is paying without thinking.
Sony's patent application credits inventors Alex Song, Daniel Hiatt, Mayu Watanabe, and Chris Thielbar, and outlines the broad intent behind the technology. The patent document states that its examples are not limiting, with "examples" referring only to the illustrations rather than preferred designs. Subsequently, the patent shifts to practical applications of NFC-enabled controllers, explaining that players often store payment information, gift card balances, and digital wallet credentials to simplify purchases and account management.
As with most patents, it remains uncertain whether this technology will ultimately benefit consumers. The controller shown in the diagram resembles the PS5's DualSense, but Sony is unlikely to introduce NFC hardware late in the console's lifecycle unless it is part of a future DualSense Edge upgrade. If this feature does appear, it is most likely to be integrated into the PS6.
Another recent patent we previously reported on describes adaptive buttons made from magnetoviscoelastic material, which can soften or harden via magnetic fields or liquid-filled membranes. This could make operation easier for players using elbows or palms while preventing accidental inputs. The patent application also details a "finger grip" effect: the button first softens to allow the finger to sink in, then hardens to wrap around the finger, forcing it to break free.
This is the second patent recently exposed by Sony, featuring imaginative applications of emerging technologies. Another patent application describes an AI technology aimed at applying Sony's characters to personalized podcasts or for "official" AI voice coding to push fixes and updates to PlayStation devices; yet another patent plans to add rewind functionality to as many games as possible by pressing a dedicated button. Given Sony's currently damaged reputation due to insufficient software support for cancelled projects from both internal teams and fans, any controller capable of handling payment data could spark controversy.