Overview
- Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that a World Intellectual Property Organization publication revealed a Sony patent for buttons that can alter their resistance and tactile feel during play.
- The filing describes using a magneto-viscoelastic elastomer controlled by adjustable magnets to stiffen or soften button areas on command.
- The patent also outlines alternate designs such as fluid-filled membranes and a “sink‑then‑harden” button that lets a finger press in before the surface firmens around it.
- Sony filed the application in November 2024 and it was published by WIPO in May 2026, but the company has not announced any plan to put the tech in a product or tied it to a PS6 release.
- The idea builds on PlayStation haptics like the DualSense and could affect game design and accessibility, though materials, control systems, manufacturing complexity, and cost are practical hurdles to real-world use.