Sony PlayStation 5 is under development and the associated DualShock 5 controller must take the gaming to a new level. The new game console will, of course, become significantly more powerful than the current PS4 Pro. Various new functions will also be added to make gaming even more interactive and social.
Sony Japan seems to be working on a new method that will make it possible to control one character together with your friend (s), each with his own DualShock game controller. There are several options, according to a recently published patent.
Sony turns a single player into a multiplayer
Halfway through 2018, Sony Interactive Entertainment filed a patent with the USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office) for a ‘Bifurcation of shared controls and passing controls in a video game’. The patent was approved on December 5, 2019, and includes extensive documentation that describes how Sony wants to turn every single player game into a multiplayer experience.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is working on new technologies to make a multiplayer game out of every single-player game by sharing controls and passing on controls – while using your own controller. Both for cloud gaming and local gaming, up to 4 users. This will make gaming even more interactive, most likely to appear on the Sony PS5 and its new DualShock 5 controller.
First of all the possibility is sketched to divide the functionality of the DualShock controller, also called ‘split controller gameplay’. As an example, the first gamer is assigned the joysticks, the second gamer can use the control buttons and the third gamer gets the triggers. If you play a shooting game, the first gamer can advance the game character, while the second gamer takes on actions such as jumping and bending over and the third gamer takes care of the shooting.
Obviously this does not only work for shooting games. These options are available both at the local level – while sitting on the couch together – and for cloud gaming – where you do not physically camp together in one room. Every gamer will see the same image on their TV screen.
One main player is designated, who determines how the buttons are divided between themselves. A maximum of 4 players can participate. If you do not want to actively participate, but do want to follow the gameplay, that is also possible, the main player must then send a virtual invitation via the social network. The documentation also describes that it is not just about one character, so you can also control a team together to compete against another team.
Multiplayer cloud gaming in rotation
Then the possibility to rotate is discussed, while you serve one character together. You then retain complete control, but alternate. This can be time-dependent, for example changing every 2 minutes. If you score a certain number of points or other forms of performance in that time frame, you can extend your duration.
You can also change according to your abilities. With a simple push of a button, you can pass the control on to a friend.
If you play via the cloud, you do not always know everyone who plays along. In such a case it is handy that the team captain has information about the skills of the other gamers. Consider player rankings, skill assessments, statistics from previously played games, ratings from other gamers, etc. Real-time statistics can also be displayed during the gameplay session.
Numerous alternatives have been defined, for example, you can take over the operation by paying virtual money. You can earn this money during gameplay. Another option is to vote who can take over the gameplay. The options available depend on the game you play. The possibilities are endless.
Finally, the documentation talks about a multiplayer experience when playing VR games. The user with the PSVR headset can play games as is the case now. However, the second player can not only watch on the television, but there is also interaction possible. This allows the second gamer to retrieve multimedia content via the internet and transfer it to the HMD (head-mounted display). Handy, so you don’t have to take the headset off your head every time.
New PS5 game controller
It is a very special and also very useful invention from Sony. Playing together and playing online has never been as popular as today. Because PlayStation game consoles have become increasingly powerful over the years, there are also more and more interaction options available. It is therefore likely that this functionality will soon be found on the Sony PlayStation 5 in combination with the DualShock 5 controller.
Sony PlayStation 5 specs & price
Sony PlayStation 5 will be released around Christmas 2020. The official announcement is likely to take place in February or during the E3 Expo in June 2020. It will be the first 8K game console from Sony. Also new is the use of an SSD as a storage medium, probably a Samsung NVMe SSD is used for this. This will achieve considerably shorter loading times. The new game console will also be backward compatible so that you can use your old PlayStation games.
The CPU is based on the third generation of AMD’s Ryzen line and contains 8 cores on the new 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture from Sony. The GPU, an adapted variant of the Radeon Navi family, will offer support for ray tracing. The Japanese game console manufacturer has also confirmed that a new game controller is under development with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, it is obvious that this will be released under the name DualShock 5.
Regarding the price, you are expected to buy the new Sony console for around € 500. It is still too early for a Pro version, it was recently announced that the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro will probably be marketed in 2023.
Although the design of the PS5 Dev Kit has been known for several months, the design of the consumer version remains unknown. However, that did not prevent Concept Creator from making a detailed render animation video of the possible design of both the game console itself and the DualShock 5 controller.
