Sony’s Latest Patent Hints at AI-Driven Controller Tech

Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent related to gaming responsiveness by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative sensor technology. The patent, titled “Timed Input/Action Release” (WO2025010132), outlines a system that predicts player inputs in real-time to minimize latency.

Latency in gaming signifies delays between player input and on-screen actions. It has been a challenge in gaming for a long time, particularly with advanced rendering technologies like PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), AMD’s Radeon Anti-Lag, and Nvidia Reflex. These technologies improve graphical fidelity but often introduce additional frame delay. Sony’s patent aims to solve this issue by predicting button presses before they happen, ensuring smoother gameplay without sacrificing responsiveness.

The system combines a machine-learning AI model with an external sensor, such as a camera trained on the player’s controller. The camera detects which button a player is preparing to press, and the AI processes this input to anticipate and execute commands more efficiently. “The camera input may indicate the first user command,” the patent explains, hinting at a futuristic integration of hardware and software.

While the patent’s exact implementation may not appear in the PlayStation 6 or its peripherals, it underscores Sony’s commitment to innovation in reducing latency, a key consideration for competitive gamers and titles that demand split-second precision.

This move aligns Sony with broader industry trends in latency reduction. The rise of frame-generation technologies like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which add rendering latency, makes predictive systems like this patent particularly relevant. Historically, not all patented technologies make their way to market, but they often indicate where a company is headed.

As of December 2024, Sony holds a total of 95,533 patents globally, with 35,166 granted. Notably, over 78% of these patents are active, underscoring Sony’s ongoing commitment to innovation. The United States leads in the number of Sony’s patent filings, followed by Japan and China.