Sony patent suggests PS6 controller to reduce stick drift

Sony Interactive Entertainment filed a patent application in 2026 for a PlayStation controller design that uses magnetic noncontact stick sensors and a spring-return mechanism. The filing says those features could be implemented in a future PlayStation console.

The published application describes replacing traditional potentiometer-based analog stick detection with a magnetic tilting sensor that senses stick movement without physical contact. The design includes a spring-based return to bring sticks back to a neutral position and mechanical elements to limit unwanted rotation.

The application states: “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,” and adds that constraining rotation prevents user-applied force “from being consumed by the rotation of the operating stick.”

The filing describes the magnetic, noncontact approach as a way to avoid wear and drift associated with contact-based sensors. The document says the spring return would help reposition the stick to its neutral state after input, while the mechanical restraint would keep rotational play from interfering with tilt detection.

Stick drift, where an analog stick registers input without user movement, has been commonly reported by PlayStation controller owners, particularly with the DualSense. The application does not explicitly name a PS6, but it notes the described features could be used in future PlayStation hardware. Patent applications describe proposed designs and do not guarantee the technology will reach consumer products. The published application was the second controller-related filing from Sony in 2026.