The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is among the best controllers Sony has released for its gaming systems, but it's not without its issues. Chief among them is stick drift caused by potentiometer wear which makes the sticks drift in certain directions even if they are not pushed. Although the DualSense Edge controller partially addressed this issue by introducing easily swappable stick modules, it seems like Sony could finally resolve it for good with its PlayStation 6 next-gen controller, as revealed by a patent that has recently surfaced online.
As reported by Cheat Happens, a new patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment late last year and published earlier this month details a new stick technology that uses magnetic sensors like the advanced TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) sensors equipped by some third-party controllers. Using magnetic sensors not only improves the sticks' accuracy, but also makes them more durable as there is no physical part involved in the stick's operation that will inevitably wear with use. In addition, TMR sensors are generally considered superior to Hall-effect sticks because they require less power and are thus ideal for a wireless controller.
"With the operating stick assembly and the input device proposed in the present disclosure, since a tilting operation sensor that senses tilting of the operating stick in a noncontact manner is utilized, movement of the operating stick can be detected with high precision even under prolonged use. Furthermore, since rotation of the operating stick is constrained by the engaging portion and the engaged portion, when a user applies a force to the operating stick to tilt the operating stick, that force is prevented from being consumed by the rotation of the operating stick, and as a result, operability of the operating stick can be improved," the patent reads.
In addition, these magnetic sticks for the potential PlayStation 6 controller will also feature spring-based return mechanics to consistently reset the stick to a neutral position alongside stabilization structures designed to stabilize the stick for improved accuracy and extended hardware lifespan.
Having gone through two DualSense controllers in over 5 years, I am glad to hear Sony is at least considering addressing the dreaded stick drift issue with its PlayStation 6 controller. This wouldn't even be the first time the Japanese company experimented with different stick technology, as the PlayStation 3's Sixaxis and early DualShock 3 models came with magnetic Hall Effect sticks, which were replaced with traditional potentiometers over time.
Addressing the hardware issues seen during the PlayStation 5 generation seems to be one of Sony's primary goals for the PlayStation 6 generation. Earlier this month, another patent revealed that Sony could be sunsetting the liquid metal cooling system of the current-generation system - which has caused thermal issues for many users - in favor of an advanced vaporization-based cooling system.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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