The proposed system could reduce manual entry during digital purchases
Summary
– A Sony patent describes using a controller to transfer payment information from a nearby smartphone to a console
– The proposed connection would activate when the console requests payment
– The filing describes a concept rather than a confirmed DualSense feature or announced rollout
Sony has outlined a payment system that could let players use a nearby smartphone to simplify purchases on a console. The patent describes a controller that serves as the connection between the phone and the console, reducing the need to enter payment details manually.
According to the reported filing details, the application was submitted on March 17, 2025, and published on September 17, 2026. Its illustrations describe how the proposed process would work during a purchase.
The sequence begins when the console requests payment information. The controller would then determine whether a smartphone is within a predetermined distance before attempting to connect.
Once the devices establish a connection through a digital handshake, the system would provide a notification confirming that step. The phone would then supply the relevant payment information, which the controller would pass to the console.
The proposed approach could reduce some of the typing required when buying games or other digital content. Entering information with a controller can be slow, particularly when navigating an onscreen keyboard.
The process would respond to a payment request rather than continuously search for a nearby phone. That design could limit unnecessary activity, although the description does not establish a measured effect on controller battery life.
Several practical details remain unspecified in the supplied account, including the required distance and how users would authorize the transfer of payment information.
The patent should not be treated as an announcement that existing DualSense controllers support the system. It describes a possible purchasing method, with no confirmed release date or rollout provided.
