October 4, 2026, 2:55 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Entering credit card data via the console’s on-screen keyboard is not exactly convenient. That’s why Sony is working on a possible alternative for the PlayStation controller. In the future, it might be enough to hold a credit card or smartphone up to the gamepad. This would not only simplify payments. Sony is also considering other potential uses for the technology.
Controller Recognizes Cards and Smartphones
How the technology might look is described by Sony Interactive Entertainment in a patent application from March 2025, which has just been published. The plan is for the controller to recognize a suitable device as soon as it is in close proximity. A light signal, sound, or vibration could alert the user.
The connection could be established via Bluetooth or NFC. NFC is used, for example, in contactless payments at store checkouts. Instead of laboriously entering credit card data via the on-screen keyboard, the card would only need to be brought near the controller.
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Gift Cards Are Also Considered
The patent is not limited to credit cards and smartphones. Sony also considers gift cards. If the controller recognizes such a card, the TV could then display a confirmation. The available balance could also be shown there. This would eliminate the need to manually enter the printed gift code.
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Another application Sony envisions is for purchases in game stores and at gaming conventions. Visitors could first test a game there and then purchase it directly via a controller provided on-site. The title could then appear in the buyer’s digital game collection.
Sony Considers Additional Features
The technology could also be used in multiplayer games. A player would hold their smartphone near the controller. The controller could then relay the request to join to the console. Similarly, the player profile could be transferred. In the other direction, game recordings could be sent from the console to the smartphone.
However, it is not yet certain whether Sony will actually implement these ideas in a new PlayStation controller. The company has not provided a timeline for a possible launch or specified which controller model might receive the described technology.