Sony Just Patented a PlayStation Controller With a Dedicated Rewind Button

Sony seems to be experimenting with the idea of a PlayStation controller that has a dedicated “rewind” button, according to a recently-published patent.

The patent, spotted by Tech4Gamers, is for gameplay rewind technology that would activate when the user pressed “a universal button on a controller during live game play.” The button would activate a mode where the user sees a series of image frames of live gameplay that they can then scroll through. Selecting one will allow the player to review their gameplay from that point.

Per the patent images, the button could be located where the “Share” button on the controller is now. Another image shows an on-screen interface buttons similar to those on a TV remote, with images indicating Play, Pause, Next, Previous, Fast Forward, and rewind. There’s also a “Return” button.

The patent description suggests that this feature would be useful in a number of ways, such as reminding a player of important quest information they might have missed, or how to reach a location they’ve been to before that they cannot recall how to access. It also details that a player might bookmark certain sections of gameplay they may want to revisit later, with the rewind button allowing them to quickly revisit these saved moments.

The patent also highlights the challenges of implementing such a feature:

“Accessing recent game play while the player is playing a video game is difficult, and requires hacking an existing service to view the portion of the game play of interest,” the patent explains. “For instance, the player may have to specifically instruct the gaming system to create a file including portions of game play for purposes of sharing with other players. The player may have to exit the game play in order to create the sharing file. When the sharing file is completed, the player can then access the portion of the game play of interest for viewing.”

While this patent is certainly interesting, it doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to see a rewinding controller in the future. Gaming companies often patent tech they’re working on, some of which makes it to market, while some doesn’t. In the last few years, we’ve seen Sony patent adaptive game difficulty systems, an interactive AR-based trophy system, auto-play and slow mode features, NFT and blockchain technology, and more.

In terms of tech we already have, the PlayStation 5 Pro just launched, with our review giving it a 7/10 and calling it “an impressive console with noticeable boosts in performance and graphics for games that take advantage of its powerful hardware. But for $700, you’ll need to think twice about whether or not the upgrade is worth the price tag.”

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].