PlayStation: Turn Your Phone Into a Second Screen?
According to a recently filed patent, Sony may be planning to let PlayStation gamers use their phones as a second screen.
Sony is always looking for new ways to enhance the player experience on its PlayStation consoles. In the past, it has filed patents for new difficulty systems that adapt to a player’s in-game performance or the ability to replay certain sections after completing them in the main game.
Sony’s PlayStation Controller Patents
Several of Sony’s patents relate to PlayStation controllers, such as a spherical option that could be used in VR titles like Horizon: Call of the Mountain or new technology that could change the temperature of the controller to better simulate the in-game environment. Other patents suggest that Sony may be looking to add a button for players to rewind gameplay or mark a specific section for replay, and software that would pin game controls to the screen to make it easier for players to remember them. Now, Sony’s latest patent suggests that the PlayStation could have a feature that will be quite familiar to Nintendo fans: a second screen.
Using a phone as a second screen
Earlier this month, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. filed a patent for a new PlayStation feature that would allow players to connect their phones to a PlayStation controller or console via a wired connection, along with an illustration of the idea. The phone would be used as a second screen, providing players with in-game hints based on their performance, with some examples being information about enemy weaknesses or input commands for useful actions like dodges and special attacks.
Potential applications
As with any patent, there’s no guarantee that Sony’s planned controller/phone connection will ever be used. However, it’s already possible to link the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller to an Android phone or iPhone to play games streamed to the device via PS Remote Play. This is a cost-effective alternative to the PlayStation Portal controller, which uses an LED screen to let players stream games from their PS5 library over Wi-Fi.
If Sony does implement its latest patent and allow players to use their phones as a second screen for PlayStation games, it could open the door to gameplay features beyond just providing hints during a particularly difficult section. Like Nintendo’s old DS handhelds or the long-discontinued Wii U, this secondary screen could be used for touch-based controls, giving players a more immersive experience. Only time will tell whether this will come to fruition, especially with persistent rumors that Sony is developing an all-new PlayStation handheld system.
