Sony has filed a patent for a PlayStation controller capable of reading payment details from nearby credit cards or phones. Titled "Video Game Controller-Driven Information Transfer," the March 2025 filing was published September 17, 2026. The controller acts as a intermediary, using NFC, Bluetooth, or direct contact to capture payment data.

It confirms reads via light, sound, or vibration before passing details to the console. Diagrams show gift cards being swiped to add funds, skipping manual code entry. Beyond payments, the technology could transfer player IDs, facilitate multiplayer guest joins, or share screenshots to a phone.

A demo scenario allows tapping a phone to add a full game to a library. Sony emphasizes this remains a patent, noting the controller resembles a standard DualSense. The company has a history of ambitious, often unshipped, controller patents, including AI-assisted inputs and touchscreen designs.

There is currently no confirmation this feature will appear on PS5 or PS6.