Sony patents game controller that shares payment info with your phone
Sony describes a method where a video game controller detects when a nearby electronic device, like a smartphone, is close enough to communicate. The controller sends a signal to the device, which then sends payment details back to the controller. The controller forwards this payment information to the game console to handle transactions triggered by in-game events.
In the filing’s own words
Techniques disclosed herein pertain to improving video game system performance. In some examples, a video game controller is wirelessly coupled to a video game console and operating the video game controller includes detecting that an electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the video game controller. In response to detecting that the electronic device is within the predetermined distance from the video game controller, a signal is emitted from the video game controller and a notification indicating that the signal was received by the electronic device is received from the electronic device. 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.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method for operating a video game controller, the method comprising: detecting that an electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the video game controller, wherein the video game controller is wirelessly coupled to a video game console; in response to detecting that the electronic device is within the predetermined distance from the video game controller, emitting a signal from the video game controller; receiving a notification from the electronic device, the notification indicating that the signal was received by the electronic device; in response to receiving the notification from the electronic device, receiving a first message from the electronic device, the first message comprising payment method information for a video game player associated with the video game controller; and transmitting a second message from the video game controller to the video game console, wherein the second message comprises the payment method information, and wherein transmitting the second message serves as a response to an event that has occurred at the video game console.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.)
- Official title
- VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER-DRIVEN INFORMATION TRANSFER
- Publication number
- US20260273403A1
- Application number
- 19082121
- Filed
- Mar 17, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A63F 13/537 Human necessitiesMore from Sony in Games & media
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.