31 mins agoFeatured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Console makers like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo often patent ideas for future features, though they don’t always make it to the consumer market. The latest console feature patent from Sony describes a system that would essentially turn your controller into a credit‑card reader.
As spotted by Dexerto, Sony has filed a patent for a controller‑driven payment system that would let players tap a credit card or smartphone against their controller to complete purchases. The application, titled Video Game Controller‑Driven Information Transfer, was filed in March 2025 and published this month. It outlines a controller acting as a bridge between a payment method and the console, using NFC or Bluetooth to pass the details along.
One example shows the console requesting payment information and prompting the user to bring their phone close to the controller. The controller would retrieve the necessary data and send it to the console for verification. Another illustration shows a physical gift card being recognised, with its balance displayed on‑screen.
Sony suggests the system could be used to buy games, in‑game currency or add‑ons. It also describes a scenario where someone tries a demo at a store or gaming event and purchases the full game immediately using the same controller. The patent even mentions transferring a player ID or helping guests join a multiplayer session using the same tap‑to‑connect method.
Sony stopped selling physical PS Store gift cards in many regions during the PS5 generation, shifting to digital codes instead, but this system would theoretically support physical gift cards if Sony ever chose to bring them back.
KitGuru says: Would you actually use tap‑to‑pay on a controller, or does typing card details into the console feel like a non‑issue?
