Sony Prepares New PlayStation 3 Controller

There have been a lot of rumors this year that both Sony and Microsoft were preparing controllers for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that would aim to replicate the motion racking which the Wiimote had already implemented. But now Sony seems to be moving closer to launching such a controller, as a recently claimed patent shows.

As seen in the adjacent image, the new controller is very different from anything Sony has created. The controller appears to be made up of two parts which can be used either independently or connected with each other. The buttons on the faceplate seem to be removable and there are two bulbous shapes which can be attached to them. It seems that these are packed with ultrasound emitters and with LEDs supposed to allow the controllers to be tracked by the PlayStation Eye camera. It looks like a very complicated system to use for motion tracking, but Sony might have already tested this solution.

The original post on NeoGaf also mentions the fact that the two pieces of the controller could be joined together in more than one pattern, which probably means that Sony is planning to allow for different controller configuration for various types of games.

It will be interesting to see whether the new patent will be turned into a working model and then into a controller sold to those who own a PlayStation 3. Sony really needs a change as far as the console business is concerned. The Nintendo Wii already has motion tracking and will add the Motion Plus as a way to track the movement of the player even better, while the Xbox 360 is seeking to re-position itself as a more casual oriented console. The PlayStation 3, which has been seen as the more hardcore console, could use a new motion tracking controller as a way to broaden its appeal.