Sony has patented a controller with buttons that harden when you play with it | According to the patent, the controller would adapt – either based on gameplay or personal preferences – by changing the hardness and resistance of the underlying mechanisms that respond to each button press

Sony initially filed the patent application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations' patents agency, in November 2024. It was officially published in May this year, as uncovered by Cheat Happens.

According to the patent, the controller would adapt – either based on gameplay or personal preferences – by changing the hardness and resistance of the underlying mechanisms that respond to each button press. This is achieved using a magneto-viscoelastic elastomer, a material capable of hardening and softening based on inputs from attached magnets.

Said magnets can be controlled by the game, creating a magnetic field that varies in strength based on the action on screen. Sony's designs also indicate potentially utilising fluid-filled membranes to achieve a similar effect.