Vita like PlayStation 5 controller patent isn't what you think

A new Sony patent was discovered by LetsGoDigital, who suggests it's for a PlayStation 5 controller. But the patent strongly indicates it's more of a family-friendly solution that connects to a home computer, not a dedicated games console.

For intents and purposes, the device is used as a kind of Remote Play receiver, but don't expect major PlayStation games to be playable on it. The patent apparently only plays mini-games and won't connect to a games console for remote game streaming.

It can connect to a host computer, and the patent mentions host computers can download games from the internet or play them via DVD ROMs, but don't expect this to be a DualShock 5/PS Vita hybrid. It won't play PS4 or godforbid PS5 games on the go. Everything about the patent suggests it's a barebones consumer product, not a gaming product.

The main goal of the device is two-fold: to connect you to a platform while you're out and about and offer multimedia functionality, and to connect to a home computer and to act as a kind of interactive multimedia controller that can remotely launch programs, view pictures, play mini-games, check email, etc. It'll map your location via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to, say, a mobile phone's cellular internet and make your location viewable via interactive maps. Although it has light gyroscopic tracking like, say, a DualShock 4, gaming seems ancillary to the device, despite the four face buttons and mention of gaming.

Reasons why it's probably not for the PS5

• Sony has said repeatedly they are not interested in making a new PlayStation handheld (in fact they just reiterated this point).
• The controller is immensely blocky and unwieldy, suggesting it's very, very small and fits in your pocket.
• It's an extension of a 2016 refresh of a patent filed in 2006, before the PS4
• There's no reason for a DualShock 5 controller to have an LCD
• It has a heart rate monitor
• No mention of processors or other dedicated hardware needed for extensive games playback

Honestly this sounds like another Toio product, or maybe a weird health-gaming hybrid. It could even be a next-gen Walkman that's basically a Game and Watch with expansive multimedia functionality.

The word "console" isn't anywhere in the entire patent. There's no mention of hooking the handheld up to a video games console to stream games back and forth.

A host computer is involved in most embodiments, but mini-games can be stored in the device. It has a gyroscope, accelerometer, and a heart-rate monitor, indicating its more for active consumers than dedicated gaming. There's multiple mentions of

It also lets you view images from a host computer, check your email, and listen to music. There's no mention of processors (CPU or GPU) or other vital components needed for, say, a Vita-like DualShock 5.

Now it's possible the device could interact with the PlayStation 5. But it won't be made for the PlayStation 5.

The most important thing to remember is this doesn't indicate a final product. This patent doesn't mean the device will actually happen. The patent is an extension of something filed in 2016, and was just now published.

Reporting on patents is 100% speculation. There's a chance I'm wrong here, of course, and Sony could make a weird LCD remote-controller-multimedia thing for the PS5. But from what I've seen, the device isn't what you think. It's more for consumers, not dedicated gamers.

Let's not forget what happened with the PS5 SSD cartridges that turned out to be a Toio kids toy, not a new proprietary storage medium for a next-gen console.

Decide for yourself by checking out the official patent here.

Sony is expected to reveal the PS5 in a special event in February 2020. The console will release in Holiday 2020, and it may cost $499.

Check below for more info:

PlayStation 5 specs and details:

• Custom SoC with second-gen Navi GPU, Zen 2 8-core, 16 thread CPU
• Navi, Zen SoC uses new AMD RDNA 2.0 architecture
• Ultra-fast SSD
• Support for 4K 120 Hz TVs
• Ray-tracing enabled
• 8K graphics support (probably video, not gaming)
• Plays all PS4 games
• Separate games that ship on BD-XL Blu-ray discs
• New controller with extensive haptic and tactile feedback

PlayStation 5 Coverage:

• Leaked PlayStation 5 devkit photos show new DualShock controller
• PS5, Xbox Scarlett SSD may use Optane-like ReRAM to supercharge speeds
• NVIDIA G-Sync monitors to improve PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett
• PlayStation 5: Everything We Know So Far
• PlayStation 5 confirmed to have 8C/16T Zen 2 CPU from AMD
• PS5, Project Scarlett may use Samsung's 6th gen V-NAND NVMe SSDs
• PS5 backward compatibility confirmed, will play PS4 games
• Sony's next-gen PlayStation 5 has 4K 120Hz output support
• PS5, Project Scarlett to hit over 10TFLOPs of power, sources say
• PS4 will be supported into 2022, to live alongside PS5
• Sony: ultra-high-speed SSD is 'the key' to next-gen PS5
• PS5 dev kit rumor: 'ultra-fast RAM', Navi GPU with 13 TFLOPs
• PlayStation 5 rumored to ship with 2TB of super-fast SSD for $499
• Insider: PlayStation 5 dev kit faster than Xbox Scarlett right now
• PS5 cartridges aren't real, patents are for Sony kids toys
• PS5's SSD may benefit PS4 games the most
• PS5 powered by Navi in 2020, AMD making Navi with Sony input
• Cloud-powered PlayStation controller may let you play free game demos
• Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation 5 launch title: launches Nov 20, 2020
• PS5 confirmed to support 8K video, ray tracing, all on Navi
• PlayStation 5 rumored to cost $499, launches November 20, 2020
• PlayStation game demos are coming back with Sony's ambitious new plan
• PS5 controller: Built-in mic, USB-C, no lightbar, ergonomic design
• PlayStation 5 concept video shows totally new design
• Sony solves PS5's biggest issue
• Sony: PS5 development going according to plan
• New Viking Assassin's Creed may be next-gen console launch game
• AMD working on 'secret sauce' for next-gen Xbox/PlayStation
• The first real photo of a PlayStation 5 dev kit appears
• Next-gen PS5/Xbox Scarlett open-world game: 'best real-time graphics'
• Sony restructures workforce to prepare for PS5
• PlayStation VR 2: built-in cameras, wireless, ready for PS5
• PS5 games will ship on 100GB Blu-ray BDXL discs
• PS5 and Xbox Scarlett will both handle ray tracing differently
• PlayStation 5 could feature AI-powered 'PlayStation Assist'
• Sony won't abandon singleplayer story-driven games on PS5
• PS5 rumor: GPU is nearly as powerful as RTX 2080, GPU clocked at 2GHz
• PlayStation 5 rumored to be unveiled on February 12, 2020
• Sony to raise PS5 cost thanks to U.S. tariffs