14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that Sony is interested in developing a new controller for gaming consoles, according to a new patent filled by the hardware maker. The twist is that the new filling with the United States Patent & Trademark Office talks about a gadget, which would be engineered to work with the Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii and about another one hundred gaming devices. Of course, it can also be used with the PlayStation 3 home gaming console.
The patent is saying that the new controller will “emulate the controllers” linked to all “popular game consoles.”
There are also specifications indicating that rumble features will be available and that speakers will be used for sound effects. It's not clear whether motion tracking abilities are also included, but it would certainly make sense for Sony to deliver them, considering the impending launch of both Project Natal and Sony' Arc or Gem.
The patent, unveiled by tech rumor site GoRumors, talks about the way the controller will be linked to the various gaming consoles on the market, saying that “The LCD is caused to present, depending on what type of game console a user has selected, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console. A key layout includes plural keys selectable by a user to input commands to a game console.”
If the manufacturer actually follows up on the patent and delivers the fresh controller, it might make both Nintendo and Microsoft a bit angry, especially if the device manages to work better than the native controllers for the Xbox 360 and the Wii. The two companies might even aim to use technology and even court orders to keep Sony’s controller from working on their platforms. Of course, there's also the possibility that Sony is just offering a proof of concept and will never make this gadget.