so… a payment terminal ? Why can they patent this?
None of the idiots in these comments or even reporting on this understand how patents work. They didn’t patent anything–they filed an application that has years ahead of it before they argue with the USPTO about what it actually covers, if they ever even achieve a granted application. Their starting point, first claim posted below, is already somewhat broad and easily designed around so I suspect if they get anything at all it’ll be nothing more than an unenforceable line item asset they can use as security for financing purposes.
- A method for operating a video game controller, the method comprising: detecting that an electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the video game controller, wherein the video game controller is wirelessly coupled to a video game console; in response to detecting that the electronic device is within the predetermined distance from the video game controller, emitting a signal from the video game controller; receiving a notification from the electronic device, the notification indicating that the signal was received by the electronic device; in response to receiving the notification from the electronic device, receiving a first message from the electronic device, the first message comprising payment method information for a video game player associated with the video game controller; and transmitting a second message from the video game controller to the video game console, wherein the second message comprises the payment method information, and wherein transmitting the second message serves as a response to an event that has occurred at the video game console.
Hold the controller closely to your parent’s wallet and unlock this amazing new skin.
You, and YOU alone can help Solid Snake in his mission. Should you choose to accept, the objective is simple. Remove the RFID resistant wallet from your parent’s back pocket. Inside, there will be a plastic card that contains the nuclear codes. Take that card, and press it to the face of your controller. Hurry, agent! The world’s counting on you
Sony is basically a patent troll these days…
I’m pretty sure the majority of their patents are things they never intend to use, they just want to be able to charge anyone else that wants to do it.
90% to 95% of all patents are never commercialized. It is not exclusive to Sony.
This is your usual daily reminder that each of the tech giants obtain something like 3000 patents a year, by patenting everything under the sun. For the sole purpose that if one of them sues another for the violation of one such patent, the other can dig up a hundred of them to countersue.
buyrent for an undisclosed amount of time with multiple options for losing possession earlyWhen a company is this focused on making it easier for you to give them your money, maybe it’s time to walk way
I thought we are just renting our bought games?
Well we sure ain’t renting them for free
Like I’m ever “buying” a game from them again.
And once the barrier to payment is that low, well, microtransactions in games naturally follow.
- “Tap your card now for a character boost for this boss fight”
Ah, the same corpo who once filed a patent about having to yell the name of a product whenever its ad pops on the TV.
Next it’ll be Mountain Dew verification cans
As store payment? sure, why not, include fancy terminal in gamepad… totally won’t increase price of device, like we lack options to pay in internet, but having one more, ok…
U don’t mean [pay to continue], [buy in-game currency], [pay to skip ad mid boss fight] or [pay to gain access to next stage without waiting for stamina]? not at all… suuuuureeeeee…
Tap credit card to parry, hold credit card down to block. Move credit card forward, down, down-forward followed by payment to shoryuken.
$5…$10…$20…$50…C.C.C.Comb$100 BREAKER!!
There’s already nothing stopping anyone from adding the latter I believe? In freemium games anyway
If implemented properly this would actually be an improvement:
- user has to authorize each purchase by tapping the card someone without the card can’t buy on the user’s behalf
- payment data doesn’t have to be stored so no payment data they can lose
“if implemented properly” lol no
First of all how much easier can it get? I just have my paypal or venmo saved and can’t even remember the last time I needed to update it, it always works and always there.
Second if anything it should be on the console not the controller. Its just another thing that will drain my battery and for something that will never get used. If its on the system i could care less. Will there be options to buy without it?
Yeah I understand the hate but this is a nothingburger when it comes to micro transactions. They can already milk us for all we have with ease. Sounds more like patent abuse honestly. But as far as scummy practices, this doesn’t really make them any worse than they already are.
basically patent on theft. make it easier for stupid people to bankrupt themselves while brainwashing them.
Remember when iCloud purchases on kids iPad exceeded like 2k$… well we will see a vulnerability and hackers taking advantage of second hand controllers market with cc info being leaked.
Sony already had that happen once. A dog mangled its owners controller and racked up a whole $8 in charges. Possibly more but that’s all I could find in the article.
On the plus side now your kid won’t have to beg you for VBucks or whatever. /s
