A patent application titled “Information Transfer via a Game Controller (VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER-DRIVEN INFORMATION TRANSFER),” filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment on March 17, 2025, was published on September 17, 2026.
Concerns About Price Hikes
According to the published details, when a smartphone or similar device is brought close to the controller, payment method information is sent to the game console. The controller acts as an intermediary, and the system is intended to be used for purchasing games or making in-game purchases in a manner similar to so-called “tap-to-pay” transactions.
NFC and Bluetooth are listed as communication methods. First, the game console requests payment method information and notifies the controller. The controller then receives the information from the device brought close to it, and after the game console queries a server to verify its validity, the purchase is completed.
The document includes examples of receiving information not only from smartphones but also from credit cards and gift cards. It also describes scenarios where users can purchase a game on the spot after trying it out at a store or event venue.
Although this document does not specify compatible models or a commercial release schedule, if adopted, this technology could potentially be used with controllers for next-generation consoles, such as the “PS6,” in the future. Meanwhile, on the international forumReddit, some users commented that card information should already be registered, while others expressed concern about a potential increase in the controller’s price.
Sony patents PlayStation controller that could accept tap-to-pay from phones and credit cards
