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Polygon

On Dec. 26, Sony was approved for a patent on a new type of PlayStation controller. The patent is on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database, but it isn’t quite clear what Sony intends to do with the controller.
...

The back of the controller is where things get a little more interesting. The patent contains potential designs for the new controller — though they aren’t final — that include two new buttons. The new buttons appear to be programmable to perform the functions of other buttons on the controller, so you could have them do the same thing as the circle or square buttons if you wanted.

 

[LegendOfKage]

If it comes standard, there's no reason why those buttons should only be used to re-map other buttons. Leave that to the new PS4 paddle accessory coming out in January.

Also, 31a and 31b look to be two different parts of each side, which might suggest four additional buttons. If that's true, it looks like your middle finger would hit 31a, and your ring finger would hit 31b. Personally, I'd prefer that anyway. Once you start using paddle controllers, you just want to never have to move your thumbs off the control sticks for any reason.

 

[Texas Pride]

We've needed the ability to custom map our buttons on console in every game standard for awhile now. Maybe stuff like this gets us closer to that.

 

[LegendOfKage]

We've needed the ability to custom map our buttons on console in every game standard for awhile now. Maybe stuff like this gets us closer to that.

Agreed. PS4 allows that in the accessibility menu, but it's system-wide. Still, it can help a lot.

 

[nowhat]

Agreed. PS4 allows that in the accessibility menu, but it's system-wide. Still, it can help a lot.

Agreed, it should definitely be on a per-game basis. I guess some rationale for it being system-wide is that it also affect navigating the OS? But surely adding a separate config for "system" in addition to individual games wouldn't be that difficult. Something like "if no game-specific mapping exists, use the system mapping as a default, game-specific mapping always overrides the system" would be ideal and doesn't sound impossible to implement. Doubtful we'll see this on PS4, but hopefully PS5.

Hmm, coming to think of it though (I haven't remapped the buttons ever) - does changing the button mapping affect button prompts in games? If not, I can see why having multiple configs could be confusing to the user. But this could easily be rectified by a mandate for developers (again, in the next gen, not gonna happen on PS4) - if you release your game on PS5, the button prompts must match the current button mapping.

 

[GHG]

We've needed the ability to custom map our buttons on console in every game standard for awhile now. Maybe stuff like this gets us closer to that.

At the mercy of the developers there unfortunately.

The best the manufacturers can do is allow it via accessibility options and then allow profiles on a per-game basis.

 

[Breakage]

I wonder whether this is gonna be the standard pack-in DualShock 5 controller or a separate Pro variant.

 

[BadBurger]

That looks pretty dope.

 

[Matt_Fox]

"Two new buttons. The new buttons appear to be programmable to perform the functions of other buttons on the controller, so you could have them do the same thing as the circle or square buttons if you wanted."

That's really disappointing to hear. The same was true of the Xbox Elite controller - the extra paddles could only be clones of the other buttons, they couldn't actually perform a 'new' function.

Two 'new' buttons would have given the PS5 a chance to really take a step forward in enabling more complex gameplay. The PC gives gamers the opportunity for tons of hot key functions and this opens up advanced gameplay options (particularly for MMORPGS and RTS genres).

Imagine playing Red Dead Redemption 2, and not having to constantly break immersion by going into the menu. Imagine playing the new Elder Scrolls and being able to hotkey a health potion and your favourite fireball spell to these two new buttons.

Why not do that?! It boggles my brain that game pad makers provide new buttons but don't allow them to be mapped to a new function.

 

[thelastword]

Agreed. PS4 allows that in the accessibility menu, but it's system-wide. Still, it can help a lot.

Yes, it's a feature they implemented years ago.....

 

[Hostile_18]

I'd LOVE an official PS5 pad that has asymmetrical anologue controllers . I do think they are too afraid to change up the design.

No touchpad, it's a crazy battery drain. (Just replace it with 2/4 buttons)

 

[Kagero]

I'd LOVE an official PS5 pad that has asymmetrical anologue controllers . I do think they are too afraid to change up the design.

No touchpad, it's a crazy battery drain. (Just replace it with 2/4 buttons)

Why would they change the best position for analogue sticks?

 

[Ar¢tos]

Button customization per game is something ps5 really needs to have (at OS level, game profiles). I'm tired of lazy devs not allowing us to map buttons and forcing us to play the way they like playing.

 

[Hostile_18]

Why would they change the best position for analogue sticks?

Life the veil over your eyes Brother, and you to can bask in joyous light.

 

[Mega_Deth]

I'm really hoping it has rear paddles/buttons. I bought a SCUF controller years ago just for that function for Call of Duty and that cost me alot of money. It was a surprise to see the Xbox Series X controller NOT have rear buttons. This would be a big advantage for Sony to include them.

 

[Quezacolt]

Why would they change the best position for analogue sticks?

The ps4 (and every ps before that) having symmetric anologue sticks is the one thing i always disliked about their controllers.

 

[SleepDoctor]

They need to remove the light. That shits s battery killer.

I'd like an "elite" version of the dualshock next gen.

 

[Painskiller]

PlayStation will be better than Xbox, as always.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I would rather use back paddles/buttons than shoulder buttons / L1+R1. I have adult-sized hands.

 

[Hostile_18]

They need to remove the light. That shits s battery killer.

I'd like an "elite" version of the dualshock next gen.

That's actually a myth, it's the touchpad that drains the battery. The light costs virtually nothing.

 

[SleepDoctor]

That's actually a myth, it's the touchpad that drains the battery. The light costs virtually nothing.

It was proven somewhere?

 

[Zannegan]

Rear paddles/buttons is a weirdly important priority for me. It feels so clunky to lift your thumb off the stick to initiate a jump in a highly mobile FPS. I was actually pretty surprised Microsoft didn't include something like this in the XSX, though I guess it's smart to hold back some features for the elite controller line.

 

[EverydayBeast]

New patents and designs always screams desperate to me, the Dual Shock has been so good for so long why rip the original design?

 

[Caffeine]

It was proven somewhere?

theres a few things that drain but yes its the touchpad as the main culprint since firmware 1.7

PlayStation General

PlayStation General

community.playstation.com

 

[PSYGN]

Rear buttons is a no-brainer evolutionary design for controllers. I've been using this setup since XBOX 360. Got back buttons modded in for my PS4 as well. It makes controlling all games feel more fluid and seamless.

 

[Eimran]

Looks like an obvious beta feature for the DS5.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

It was proven somewhere?

The touchpad is always actively checking for finger input. All they have to do is change how the touch pad functions.

 

[GenericUser]

Thank god backpeddals are becoming a standard. It's like the shoulder buttons from the 90s or the mouse wheel, an evolution long overdue.