Engadget reports that a Sony patent describes relaying payment or account information from a nearby phone through a PlayStation controller to a console. It's a proposed design, not an announced controller feature. Source
Engadget says Sony filed the proposal in 2025 under the title “Video game controller-driven information transfer.” Source
How the handoff could work
According to Engadget's account, the controller would detect a nearby device, such as a phone. The device would receive a signal and send a confirmation back to the controller, which would then forward it to the console. The connection could use NFC, Bluetooth or both. NFC, short for near-field communication, is also used for contactless payments. Source
That relay could mean fewer trips across an on-screen keyboard: a welcome change of genre for a gamepad. Engadget's article includes no measurements of time or effort saved. Source
Engadget says the patent's diagrams also suggest a less checkout-obsessed use: tapping a device to sign into a PlayStation account. The report doesn't describe a working demonstration. Source
Still a patent idea
Whether this design ever reaches a shipping controller remains unknown. Engadget's article gives no release date, price or supported console generation, and leaves payment security and device compatibility unspecified. A patent report is not a preorder page. Source
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