PlayStation 4 Controller: PS Move Controller Patent Hints At Next-Gen Update Adding Touchpad

A recently discovered patent from Sony has led many to believe that the company is currently developing a redesign of its popular motion controlled PlayStation Move controller in order to fit it with the same kind of touchpad found on the PlaySation 4's new DualShock 4 controller.

According to CVG, the patent was filed back in June of 2012 but only recently became published for the public to see. The controller, pictured above, is for a "flat joystick controller." The accompanying image looks exactly like the PlayStation Move controller with the simple upgrade being that it is a little bit smaller and includes the touchpad on the handle.

As IGN notes, since the touchpad is a feature that is exclusive to the DualShock 4 for PS4, many believe that Sony is currently developing a Move controller for its latest next-generation console.

"In a traditional joystick, it's hard to keep a user's thumb still while the user provides input by engaging various motions with the joystick. This is due to the fact that in the joystick, the thumb's support moves. However, using a touch input surface, the thumb can be kept still while continuing to provide the user's input by pressing on the input surface. The pressing of the user's finger on the input surface causes friction that is recognized," the filing for the patent reads.

It's not completely out of the realm of possibility for Sony to be developing an update to the PlayStation Move now that it's revamping everything that has to do with the console. However, the fact that the patent is more than a year old and there has still been no announcement from the company means that this could have just been an idea that fell by the wayside in the mad scramble to find developments for the PlayStation 4.

Would you be interested in an update to the PlayStation Move controller for the PlayStation 4? Comment and share your thoughts with us below.