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While PlayStation remains under siege by many fans for its decision to axe physical disc production, other developments for the company keep moving forward—including patents appearing online for possible PlayStation 6 hardware. A recent patent detailed the advanced cooling system for the PS6, for example, and a new one appears to reveal a new modular controller that could be accessible for PS5 and eventual PS6 owners.
It remains to be seen what exactly comes of the PS6, and it's worth mentioning that a patent does not always translate to a confirmed product. However, if this patent does manifest, the next generation controller could look very different from the current PS5 DualSense controller line-up. Namely, the next-gen PlayStation controller may drop the iconic PS5 touchpad and replace it with a modular touchscreen.
New PlayStation Controller Patent Details Major Changes
The newly published patent, filed under 20260199776 A1 (as first reported by MP1st), describes a modular PlayStation controller that replaces the DualSense's touchpad with something much more ambitious: a detachable touchscreen. According to the filing, the touchscreen can display console menus, settings, notifications, messages, and other system functions, while a rotating navigation dial positioned beside it allows players to quickly scroll through menus and confirm selections. Both components can also reportedly be repositioned around the controller body using magnetic attachments, allowing players to customize the layout based on personal preference.
Some of the biggest features described in the patent include:
- Detachable touchscreen that replaces the traditional PS5 touchpad, can operate similarly to a cell phone.
- Quick console controls that allow players to navigate PlayStation features directly from the controller.
- Magnetic modular design, allowing components to be moved to different locations on the controller.
- Built-in notification support for messages, phone calls, and system alerts.
- Automatic game pause functionality when interacting with certain notifications.
The patent also suggests Sony wants the controller to function as more than just a gaming peripheral. Instead of reaching for another screen, players could potentially check notifications, navigate system menus, and respond to certain alerts directly from the controller itself. If a player chooses to interact with a notification, the patent even describes the possibility of the game automatically pausing while they handle it before jumping back into the action. Company executives recently commented on wanting to get away from the "PlayStation Equals Living Room" mindset, and this would certainly be one way to do that.
Of course, like every patent, this should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. Sony patents plenty of ideas that never become real products, and there is no indication this controller is destined for the PS6, a future PS5 accessory, a combination PS5/PS6 modular controller, or anything else currently in development. Still, between this and the advanced cooling patent, it's becoming increasingly clear that Sony is actively experimenting with what the future of PlayStation hardware could look like. Whether any of these ideas survive to join the PS6's reported 2027 release date remains to be seen.
