Sony Exploring Ways to Add Haptic Feedback to Older PlayStation Games

Sony may be looking into ways to introduce the haptic feedback of the PS5 to older PlayStation titles. One of the most prominent additions to come with the PS5 is the enhanced haptic feedback of the console’s DualSense controller, which utilizes advanced rumble motors to stimulate in-game sensations in certain PlayStation titles. This helps give players a more immersive experience by allowing them to feel the weight of Kratos’s Leviathan Axe in God of War Ragnarok or the resistance of Aloy’s bow in Horizon Forbidden West, to name a few examples.

Sony is reportedly still looking into ways to make the PS5’s haptic feedback even more useful and immersive if the patents the company has filed over the past few years are any indication. One such patent describes a hand strap that would theoretically allow developers to test haptic feedback without needing to touch a controller, while another mentions a software system that would provide increased accessibility to hearing-impaired players through haptic feedback. Sony has even filed a patent to expand its haptic feedback to other media, and now it looks like games from previous PlayStation generations could be getting an upgrade as well.

Earlier this month, a patent was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited describing a way to possibly add the PS5 DualSense controller’s haptic feedback to older PlayStation games. According to the patent, this system would use in-game audio to determine if haptic feedback should be implemented, without Sony having to modify a game’s ROM files. For example, footstep sounds may trigger smaller vibrations, while an explosion would activate massive rumble feedback and even flashing lights around the PS5 controller’s touch bar.

Sony Patent Describes Audio-Based Haptic Feedback for Older PlayStation Games

Sony’s dedication to improving haptic feedback in gaming dates all the way back to the original PlayStation, which featured one of the first gaming controllers to have a vibration motor built into it. The original PS1 DualShock controller became highly successful, paving the way for even further enhancements alongside later PlayStation consoles.

As Sony continues to bring more classic PlayStation games to the PS5, fans might one day be able to experience these older titles in a whole new way thanks to the evolved haptic feedback of the DualSense controller. While there is no guarantee that Sony’s latest patent will result in the PS5’s haptic feedback being added to older games, it would make for an even more immersive experience for players looking to relive their most nostalgic memories while enjoying titles from the original PlayStation console and beyond.

PlayStation 5

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.