Sony patents ‘VR controller’ with finger tracking

Plans for a PlayStation VR motion controller have been revealed in a new patent.

The patent for a ‘Controller Device‘ (spotted by UploadVR and 91Mobiles) shows a device capable of tracking the user’s fingers, similar to existing VR controllers from Oculus and Valve.

According to the patent, the controller described can detect “the proximity or contact of a finger and outputs a finger detection signal indicating the state of proximity or contact of the finger.”

UPDATE 07/04: Sony has officially unveiled PS5‘s DualSense controller, which it calls “a radical departure” from its previous DualShock pads.

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In theory, this would allow users to ‘grab’ in-game objects by grasping the controller, similar to how existing VR controllers work.

On the front of the device are four face buttons and what could either be a fifth larger button or an analogue stick.

PlayStation launched Its console VR hardware just over three years ago in October 2016. Sony said In January that PlayStation VR sales have topped five million units since launch.

While the company has said the current PS VR headset is compatible with PlayStation 5, a recently published patent suggests Sony may be preparing to release a next-gen PlayStation VR headset.

A 2019 patent describes a VR headset which includes two front cameras and one rear camera, as well as upgraded Sony Move controllers which could feature a built-in camera too.

PlayStation 5 will launch during the 2020 holiday season.