Sony has filed a patent that could allow PlayStation controllers to work as contactless payment terminals. The patent, titled "Video Game Controller-Driven Information Transfer," describes tapping a credit card, smartphone, or gift card against a controller to complete a purchase. According to Tom's Hardware, it was first filed in March 2025 and published on September 17 after being spotted by Dexerto.
The system would use NFC and Bluetooth. Patent artwork shows a TV asking "Do you wish to purchase this game?" next to a DualSense and smartphone, plus a "Gift card received!" message, which could mean the end of manually entering long codes to top up a PlayStation Store balance. The patent also suggests prompts after playing a demo at a retailer or event, though it is unclear whether signing in to a PlayStation account would be required.
The imagery in the patent shows a PS5 console and DualSense controller, so it does not hint at future hardware. Tom's Hardware notes that patents do not guarantee a product will ship, and this payment system may never appear in real consoles.