Sony is exploring a new payment feature that could allow PlayStation users to buy games and digital content by simply tapping a phone, payment card or gift card against a compatible controller.
A newly published Sony patent describes a PlayStation controller capable of receiving payment or other information from nearby devices and transferring it to a connected console.
The patent, titled “Video Game Controller-Driven Information Transfer,” was filed in March 2025 and published on September 17, 2026. It outlines the use of technologies including NFC and Bluetooth to establish connections between the controller and devices such as smartphones and payment cards.
PlayStation Controller Could Become a Payment Device
Under the proposed system, a player could receive a payment prompt on the PlayStation console before bringing a compatible phone, credit card or gift card close to the controller.
The controller would capture the relevant payment information and transfer it to the console, where the transaction could then be processed.
Sony’s patent also mentions digital wallets and bank accounts among the possible sources of payment information. The system could potentially support purchases of games, downloadable content, in-game items and gaming credits.
That could make the controller part of the payment process rather than simply acting as an input device.
NFC and Bluetooth Could Power the System
The patent describes several ways the controller could communicate with nearby devices, including NFC and Bluetooth.
NFC would be particularly useful for short-range interactions, allowing a player to tap a compatible device against the controller to transfer information.
But the technology described by Sony is not limited to payments. The patent suggests the controller could also facilitate other types of information transfers between a PlayStation console and a smartphone or other connected device.
Possible uses include transferring account information, joining multiplayer sessions and moving screenshots or gameplay clips between devices.
PS5 DualSense Does Not Support the Proposed Feature
The technology remains at the patent stage, and Sony has not announced plans to introduce the payment feature on the PS5, PS6 or any existing PlayStation controller.
The current PS5 DualSense controller does not include the NFC hardware described in the patent, meaning the proposed system would likely require a future controller or a significant hardware revision.
Patent filings do not necessarily indicate that a company will bring a particular technology to market. Sony could ultimately modify, delay or abandon the concept.
For now, the patent provides a glimpse at how Sony could explore faster ways to handle payments and information transfers within the PlayStation ecosystem, potentially making a future controller more closely connected to users’ phones and digital wallets.
