PlayStation Users Could Soon Utilize Smartphones as Secondary Screens

Essential Insights into Sony’s Latest Patent

Sony has filed a patent indicating a potential feature allowing players to connect their phones to PlayStation controllers or consoles via a wired link.
This feature would transform phones into second screens, providing real-time in-game hints tailored to player performance.
The timeline for the potential release of this feature remains uncertain.

Recent patent filings from Sony raise intriguing possibilities for PlayStation users, suggesting the integration of mobile phones as secondary screens during gameplay. The company consistently seeks new avenues to enhance gaming experiences, with previous patents exploring adaptive difficulty levels and options to replay specific game segments post-completion.

Many of Sony’s innovations focus on enhancing controller functionality. Noteworthy mentions include a spherical controller designed for immersive VR experiences, such as Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and innovative temperature adjustment technology that simulates in-game environments. Additionally, there are proposals for buttons that could enable players to rewind gameplay or mark sections for later playthrough, alongside software that prominently displays game controls for easier memorization. The latest patent, however, hints at a feature familiar to Nintendo enthusiasts—a second screen experience.

Exploring Sony’s Integration of Phones as a Gaming Second Screen

As with any patent, the realization of Sony’s proposed connection between controllers and phones is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, players can currently connect a DualSense controller to both Android and iOS devices for seamless gameplay via PS Remote Play. This capability offers a budget-friendly alternative to the PlayStation Portal controller, which is equipped with an LED screen for game streaming from the PS5 using Wi-Fi.

If Sony successfully deploys this new feature, it will likely pave the way for additional gameplay enhancements beyond offering strategic hints. Similar to the bygone Nintendo DS systems and the Wii U, a secondary touchscreen could facilitate unique gameplay mechanics, providing players with an enriched and immersive gaming environment. The future will reveal whether this concept becomes a reality, especially amidst ongoing speculation about a potential new handheld device from Sony.

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