Sony is continuing to upgrade their hardware with new patents by bringing a new touchscreen experience for gamers. The latest patent Sony has developed is for their PlayStation 4 controllers.
However is a new touchscreen controller unique and innovative, especially with other consoles on the market opting for the same user experience? The DualShock 4’s touchpad is just a glorified pause button, taking up much space on the controller, adding bulk and excess power consumption. What could this mean once the patent goes through and new touchscreen controllers start hitting the market? For one, how durable will the touch screens be?
Pros
The original controllers for Sony are already a staple. They’re easy to use with a standard design that dates back to the very first PlayStation console. Sony’s decision to upgrade to interactive controllers is a welcome and refreshing take on what’s available on the market. Touch Screens add a premium feel to any device and has the possibility of being highly customizable, imagine, neon glowing controller icons.
Cons
Touch screens once broken through and through are one of the most inconvenient repairs available as seen on phones and similar devices. The hassle of going to a repair center and waiting for a few days or completely buying a new one is not budget-friendly for most.
The next issue would be the power consumption and aesthetics. If the power consumption is high it would have to be equipped with a high capacity battery which might bulk up the controller itself. The weight of the controller will be affected too and this might be a con to some.
Final Thoughts
Sony’s patent might not arrive anytime soon but expect it to arrive in next-generation consoles. There is still much time to develop and improve current issues with the available controllers. Hopefully, these will be addressed in the next generation of releases.
