PS6 controller leak suggests DualSense to be upgraded with ambitious new feature

The PlayStation 5’s DualSense is easily the greatest controller that Sony has ever created, but it looks set to receive quite a major overhaul during gaming’s next generation.

As reported and discovered by MP1ST, a patent has been filed revealing that a new touchscreen function is in development as part of a new modular controller.

The patent was filed on July 16 2026, under the document ID 20260199776 A1.

If you have a DualSense, then you’ll know it already comes with a built-in touchpad, but it looks as if Sony is hoping to upgrade that further with a new touchscreen.

An accompanying sketch of the proposed controller depicts a completely magnetic modular design.

The touchscreen would display notifications and provide quick access to menus

The controller, which boasts the same shape as the regular DualSense, is shown to have a four-by-seven grid where users can potentially freely place the touchscreen, thumbsticks, directional arrows, and other button inputs.

As for what the touchscreen can do, an accompanying ‘definition’ of the patent makes reference to “a graphical user interface configured to present selectable icons to control or navigate features of the video game system”.

In other words, it seems the intention is for the touchscreen to allow users to navigate their console more freely, with built-in notifications and quick access controls both hinted at.

Sony

MP1ST suggests that the screen will be able to show menus, settings, and messages, which users will be able to sort through using a rotating dial.

That’s clear as the patent definition also speaks about “a rotating member that rotates relative to an axis that intersects the controller body such that at least one or more of the selectable icons is selected or one or more of the features is controlled or navigated”.

There’s even a suggestion that players may be able to link the screen with their phone to see incoming calls.

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It’s possible that the patented idea may not see the light of day

It’s important to offer some context when it comes to patents, as not all patents get made; it’s a way of Sony ensuring it has copyright ownership over a certain idea.

As such, while this could be what the team is working on for the PS6, it could even be an idea for the PS7 or beyond - or even something that is abandoned altogether.

It’s fair to say though, that the patent does feel pretty achievable, particularly the touchscreen part.

It would boost the price of a controller, certainly, although maybe that could be balanced out by cutting the modular part of the design.

The existing DualSense will inevitably have to receive some new bells and whistles during the next generation, as is tradition, and given that the controller is already pretty comprehensive, a touchscreen seems the right way to go.

That’s if anyone even turns up to welcome in PlayStation’s next-generation outing.

READ MORE: Nine of the most exciting PS5 games to be released in August 2026

PlayStation’s all-digital future continues to face major backlash from fans and devs

From January 2028, PlayStation is going all-digital with no physical copies offered for games from then on - and that applies to both first and third-party releases.

Needless to say, fans are outraged with hundreds of comments flooding every single PlayStation social media post made since the announcement.

Many are even cancelling their PlayStation Plus subscriptions, with the anger even said to be matched internally.

First-party studios reportedly didn’t know of PlayStation’s intention. Meanwhile, smaller third-party studios are furious that the thousands they’ve paid out to be featured on PlayStation’s socials have only been met with the continued backlash.

The PlayStation 6 isn’t expected to arrive any sooner than 2027, but the once-titan of the games industry has a long way to go to get people back on side.