Sony has applied for a patent for its Back Button Attachment, the additional accessory for the DualShock 4 announced in 2019 that adds programmable buttons to the bottom of the controller. Archiving, spotted by IGN, doesn’t call the device by its existing name, but describes the product as an add-on with buttons that “can be mapped to controller buttons using custom button mapping presets” and features a series of diagrams showing how it works.
It is not immediately clear what the patent application means for Sony. The order, which has yet to be granted, was first filed in the United States in the summer of 2019, before Sony did so internationally in June last year. It offers no indication that this device may be reaching the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller, as the diagrams represent what appears to be an older DualShock 4 device and do not describe any corresponding function with the new console’s gamepad or any of its features. exclusive features.
What is worth noting is that there are increasing litigation pressures around the market for professional controllers containing programmable rear paddles. Last week, Valve was fined $ 4 million for the design of the Steam Controller in a lawsuit filed by Scuf and Ironburg Inventions, both subsidiaries of gaming peripheral maker Corsair. Scuf also licenses its technology, which includes its intellectual property and patents, to Microsoft from 2015 onwards for the Xbox controller Elite line of controllers, which features programmable rear paddles similar to the devices Scuf sells.
There is no indication that Sony’s shares, which again date back to June 2019 at least in the case of the U.S. version of this patent application, have any connection to any ongoing or earlier lawsuits or licensing agreements. But it is a smart idea for a company to patent its intellectual property in a competitive space, especially if it wants to protect its product line and any future releases.
The rear button attachment, announced in late 2019, is Sony’s low-cost alternative to a suitable professional controller. It costs just $ 30 and adds programmable buttons to the bottom of DualShock 4 that allow you to remap crucial functions reserved for, say, the X or O buttons. This in turn allows you to trigger the associated game actions without removing your thumbs on the joystick. In a smart move, Sony opted for smooth buttons that don’t float out of the controller, unlike the more popular floating paddle design, which means they’re less likely to come off.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22292190/LXAffSFxfgF4GUgDplAft2i42e_dFI0ja8wG_pHjj_F3vN6dsZhlxfCJdfnzGJT7JKH4gTUnugLQyrDKnQ9_skNu4y8ZE4IHIyo0jOe5NTBYPhQUmN2_LI5nsGBVXQfNER_03U95FydJ0Rl3SmW7GlNLZqGJvqftwbzWNp3pyoc__1_.png)
Image: Sony
The extra programmable buttons can provide a notable advantage when playing competitive high-stakes games. Prior to the Back Button Attachment, PlayStation fans relied on third-party manufacturers for programmable rear paddles and other professional control features, such as customizable thumbsticks.
While some fans may have wanted the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller to be released with removable rear paddles, Sony did not do so when the gamepad was unveiled last year and finally launched with the new console in November. And due to the device’s format, the existing Back button attachment does not work on it. Whether we see an updated version of the accessory for DualSense is anybody’s guess, but it sure would be nice to have.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the patent application may suggest that Sony is working on a version of the Back Button Attachment for the PS5’s DualSense controller. There is no indication that this is true, and we have updated the story and its title to reflect this and include new information about a lawsuit won by Corsair against Valve. We’re sorry for the error.