New Patent Points To Snap-Together Move / DualShock Hybrid Controller

A new patent picked up today suggests that Sony are at least potentially working on a new kind of videogame controller that’s a hybrid of two PlayStation Move sticks and a regular DualShock, bring them together into one snap-apart mashup.

The patent was published yesterday [available here as a PDF] and calls it a “hybrid separable motion controller” and is assigned to SCEA, so it’s definitely intended for Sony.

snap together sony controller

One of the drawings in the PDF shows the components hidden inside the handle – magnetometer, accelerometers, gyros, vibration function and a speaker.

The orbs can also light up, just like those on the Move.

It’ll also require a camera, according to the filing, and games can detect whether the controller is split into two or not and then prompt the user to adjust the setup accordingly.

Whether or not this is for PS3 or PS4 (or indeed, intended for real world use at all) is anyone’s guess – the PDF shows a Cell/RSX configuration on one slide, which suggests this is a current generation device rather than anything more fanciful.

Update: apologies, this was filed in May 2011, albeit only recently published.

20 Comments

  1. It is an interesting concept

    Would be one way of handling a core & motion controller ‘out-the-box’ (which is important for any product’s install base & therefore developer interest) without adding the expense of including seperate core & motion controllers.

    Although you have to wonder how many patent applications are measures just to get something on the table should a rival implement something similar – or a preventative measure to force 3rd parties to licence such a product from Sony rather than just bring out an unlicenced product like it themselves.

  2. That looks terrible, am i the only one that just wants a regular controller. Heck, even the wii u has a proper controller.

    • Nope, I would prefer a normal controller. Not interested in Move or Kinect.

  3. Looks horrible especially with the Xbox-esque d-pad.

  4. Give me my bog standard Dualshock 3 any day of the week over this, thank you very much.
    I have 2 Move controllers as well, I’d rather they were kept separate.

  5. OMG – Its a dual shock with boobs!

    Doesn’t look very nice, but i do like boobs.

    • I like boobs to.

    • You’ve sold it to me, I’ll buy one one. As long as they both light up a nice pink at the same time.

      • Only if you rub them in circular motions.

        … & you can’t be too rough with them either, as the controller will just get into a huff & completely shut down on you! ;)

    • Looks like a must have for me, I have just the game for that.

  6. No thanks.

    D-Pad looks horrible, and to be honest I hate any changes they try to make to the DualShock since it had the two sticks added halfway through the PS1s lifetime.

  7. Just add the better accelerometer and gyros from the Move in the DualShock 3 and force every FPS to _support_ aiming from those input and you have a real world hardcore use for it.

  8. If they could shrink those bulbs down to small IR points that could be picked up by a PS-Eye3 with infrared camera (like Kinect, or almost like a reverse Wii), then that would be better. But a stick shape works better for a Move-Wiimote type of controller.

  9. If Sony ever get around to making it the d-pad will be just like the ones on PS controllers for the last 18 or so years. I.e., it’ll be fine, why complain about a line drawing?

    I’m intrigued about the inclusion of speakers. I enjoyed games on the Wii that used the Wiimote’s speaker to pass information/instructions to just one player. What the Wii did with audio though the Wii U now does with video and that serves up a delicious smörgÃ¥sbord of new possibilities.

  10. its just a patent drawing, not a concept. most likey will look exactly like the dual shock always has

    • Agreed although I’m not sure how Sony can disguise the two boils on the front of it. ;-)

      • Stick a couple of nipples on ’em & they’ll fly off the shelves! ;)

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