Sony Patent Reveals PlayStation Gaming On The Go

Nearly a decade after Sony's failed PS Vita was released, there are new rumblings about the company's next attempt at mobile gaming. According to a patent and designs first spotted by VGC, Sony's newest concept for gaming on the go might not incorporate a mobile console at all, but may rely on the powerful smartphones players already have in their pockets. 

The patent was officially published this week by SIE's (Sony Interactive Entertainment) Japanese division and contains a good look at how Sony wants the product to work. The device seems to be akin to a controller grip, similar in design to the DualShock 4, rather than the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller. Much like the Backbone One controller, PlayStation-looking grips are placed on either side of a rectangular screen in the center. 

As described in the patent, the device is composed of "a left side grip portion and a right side grip portion gripped by the left and right hands of the user." The available information also seems to indicate that the device can detect tilting and other motions. If this device ever sees the light of day, it could mark a significant shift in Sony's direction for mobile gaming.

Sony's potential release of a supplementary gaming device, one that uses players' phones as a console, would mean Sony's finally given up on its PlayStation Portable (PSP) concept. Though it meandered on for some years and even saw successor consoles, the PSP never attained the same kind of player base as Nintendo's more popular handhelds. For one, PSP and its successors were consistently more expensive options for players, and its game library paled in comparison, especially when looking for significant or iconic titles. If Sony's serious about its new patent, it could change everything.

Cloud-based gaming has been growing in popularity over the last few years, allowing players to enjoy their games from almost anywhere with a stable internet connection. PlayStation offers some of these features to smartphone users already, allowing players to connect to their consoles with the "Remote Play" app and the ability to connect PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers via Bluetooth. A familiar-feeling, motion-sensitive grip could help bridge the gap between console and mobile, finally allowing players to enjoy PlayStation titles seamlessly through a first-party attachment on their phone.

This news also comes in the wake of Sony's recent efforts to expand its mobile gaming initiative. In the last year, SIE hired former Apple Arcade head Nicola Sebastiani (per VGC) and confirmed that more PlayStation franchises would find a home on mobile platforms.