Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Japanese division published a new PlayStation mobile game patent that turns smartphones into controllers. The move follows a recent push into mobile gaming, with hardware like Valve’s Steam Deck and software like Microsoft’s xCloud enabling players to pursue AAA games on the go. Sony has shown considerable interest in the mobile gaming market, having developed PlayStation controllers compatible with mobile devices through Bluetooth, as well as attempting to bring its IPs to a mobile platform.
Last month, PlayStation hired former Apple Arcade head, Nicola Sebastiani, as part of its strategy to bring Sony’s first-party games to mobile smartphones. The former mobile game developer worked at Apple for eight years and helped develop Apple Arcade, the company’s mobile game subscription service. The new hire is part of Sony’s new business unit which would have it adapt its original IPs for mobile platforms, such as its classic racing series WipEout. The Rogue Games-developed racing franchise is launching Wipeout Rush for Android and iOS devices in early 2022. The developers have rethought the franchise for mobile by introducing new play mechanics, though it is said to refrain from its deep-rooted console experience. Still, Wipeout Rush is promised to have gorgeous visuals and feature iconic ships, familiar tracks, and an electronic soundtrack that WipEout fans will love.
As reported by VGC, a new PlayStation mobile game patent could turn smartphones into controllers. The patent is reportedly part of Sony’s push towards mobile, developing a system for playing games on a mobile device using two controller grips on either side of the smartphone. The sketch, which resembles PS4’s DualShock 4 instead of PS5’s newer DualShock model, showcases “a shaft portion that can be tilted by the user, and detect the tilting direction and tilting amount of the shaft portion.” The controller itself is divided into two parts, with “a left-side grip portion and a right-side grip portion gripped by the left and right hands of the user.”
Though not much is known about Sony’s new patent, the device could be a big step in the company’s plan to introduce PlayStation experiences to mobile audiences. The PlayStation mobile game patent could utilize Sony’s Remote Play feature, enabling AAA games to be played on smartphones with the use of a PS4 or PS5 console. It’s also possible the patent coincides with a push for Sony’s own cloud-based service that would resemble Microsoft’s Game Pass with xCloud that connects players to an ever-expanding library playable anywhere using the cloud.
As Sony begins to press forward with its plan, fans are likely to see more PlayStation IPs in mobile form. This could be solely through standalone mobile games like WipEout or with Remote Play options for blockbuster IPs like Marvel’s Spider-Man or Horizon Zero Dawn. The PlayStation mobile game patent might be a massive hint at how invested Sony is in mobile gaming, so it’s possible bigger secrets will be unveiled soon.
Source: VGC