SAN MATEO, Calif.–Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent application for technology that could let players buy games and in-game content by holding a payment card or smartphone near a PlayStation controller, according to Tom’s Hardware.
The application, titled “Video Game Controller-Driven Information Transfer,” was filed in March 2025 and published Sept. 17. It describes a controller receiving payment information from a nearby device and passing it to a game console. Gift cards are also contemplated, Tom’s Hardware reported.
Illustrations in the application show a purchase prompt on a television and, in another example, a message confirming receipt of a gift card. The application also describes a potential purchase after someone plays a game demonstration at a retailer or event. It discusses near-field communication and Bluetooth as ways to transfer information. Tom’s Hardware
The drawings depict a console and controller resembling the PlayStation 5 and its DualSense controller, Tom’s Hardware reported. The application does not establish that Sony will add the feature to a controller or indicate when it might be available.
