Sony Interactive Entertainment has patented a console controller that houses and charges wireless earbuds.
According to a patent filed by the company last week, which was spotted by GameRant, the company is exploring giving a new controller the ability to store, charge and pair in-ear headphones.
The patent includes images showing that the earbuds could potentially be stored in several different positions on the controller, including under the touchpad, suggesting that the configuration wasn’t finalised when it was published.
The product would eliminate the need for the user to separately pair their controller and headphones to a console, as well as the need to manage separate battery life statuses to ensure to that the controller, the earbuds and the case for the earbuds are charged.
“The controller is designed to act both as an input device and as a headphone storage, charging and connection case,” Sony says. “Using the controller as a headphone case and an earbud charger eliminates the need to manage two separate devices.
“This simplifies the overall user experience as the user has one less device to manage communication with the gaming device.”
It adds: “As portability becomes more mainstream and important, the audio experience also becomes more important.”
Sony recently announced plans to launch a dedicated PS5 remote play device, PlayStation Portal, and its first wireless earbuds, called Pulse Explore. Both products will cost $199.99 / €219.99 / £199.99.
PlayStation Portal will launch in select markets on November 15, 2023, while Pulse Explore’s release date is still to be confirmed.
