A recently publishedSonypatent details a “Universal Controller” that will work across a number of devices from consoles to various entertainment apps. However, this filing also strangely refers to basically anything that is not aPlayStation productas “inferior.”
The patent describesSony’s attempt to correct an issue seen with other universal remote control devices, that being they become outdated as apps, consoles, and other brands receive new updates or hardware. This filing would essentially be a “futureproofed” device if it works as described. However, it should be noted that the drawings and descriptions of the patent make this device sound more like a universal remote (akin to a universal TV remote), capable of operating entertainment apps and consoles on a hardware level, rather than something that could actually play video games.
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Regardless, the patent cites a PC,PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, and PS Vitaas examples of potential devices that the controller can be used with, ending with “or a home entertainment system of a different albeit inferior manufacturer.” The patent makes it clear elsewhere that “home entertainment system” is in reference to consoles, so this comment is obviously targeted at Microsoft and Nintendo. It’s certainly strange for this language to appear in a patent, and it gets stranger when the description of the patent includes “text based on automatic Optical Character Recognition processes. Please use the PDF version for legal matters.” It should be noted that the PDF version of this patent does not seem to include the “inferior” language.
While this patent was published on July 21, 2025, it’s worth noting that it was filed in June 2022. This means the patent was filed about six months afterMicrosoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard King. This doesn’t mean the offhanded remark is necessarily involved, but since then, gamers the world over have seen a very public breakdown of communications between Microsoft and Sony. At that time, it doesn’t necessarily make sense for Sony to throw shade at Nintendo, but it’s impossible to derive intent from this comment. After all, again, it’s not language commonly seen in a patent.
It’ll be interesting to see, nonetheless, if this PlayStation Universal Controller comes to fruition or not. What fans should remember is that just because a patent is filed or even published, that doesn’t mean the product is then immediately in the works, if ever. But if it is, it’ll be nice to have a futureproofed device that can operate acrossMicrosoft, Sony, and Nintendo devices.
