Although gamers have made it abundantly clear that they are against the all-digital future PlayStation is set to push from 2028, the company seems unlikely to change its plans. With hardware costs skyrocketing, PlayStation is determined to further monetize its existing user base, keeping them in a digital ecosystem withno reselling. A new patent suggests the company aims to make digital content purchases even more convenient by using controllers such as the DualSense.
As the company filed a new patent back in March 2025, which was published last week, on September 17, detailing a system that would turn a PlayStation controller into a payment relay, allowing a user’s phone to provide credit card details to the console wirelessly without any input from the user
“In response to receiving the notification, a first message that includes payment method information for a video game player associated with the video game controller is received from the electronic device and a second message that includes the payment method information is transmitted from the video game controller to the video game console,” the patent reads.
As for how the proximity of the device storing the payment information, the controller, and the PlayStation system interact, the patent makes it clear that multiple detection protocols will be used, including NFC, Bluetooth, and even physical contact. Once the device has been detected, the controller will use haptic feedback, audio, light, or a combination of these to notify the user.
The patent also outlines the reason behind the possible implementation of this system: “Video game players have found it desirable to store payment method information and account information such as credit account information, bank account information, gift card information, digital wallet identification information, crypto wallet identification information, and associated credentials in their accounts for facilitating and managing video game purchases, video game credits, in-app purchases, and the like.”
Reading this, it seems like security concerns could also be behind this new tech, as the PlayStation Network already allows storing payment information, but with rampant account hacking, most users would prefer this information to be stored more securely than in the account itself.
Since a simpler payment process is sure to lead to fewer abandoned purchases, it would make sense for PlayStation to implement this system for both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 6 in the future. Although physical releases are still prized by many, data suggest that digital sales make up a significant share across all platforms, so making the digital purchase process easier and more secure is sure to benefit the company.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.
After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi “Suda51” Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA’s president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3.
When he’s not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
Products mentioned
Deal of the Day
