Sony has filed a patent describing a PlayStation controller capable of reading information from credit cards and gift cards. The technology could potentially make digital purchases easier by turning the controller into a contactless payment device.

Sony Envisions a Controller With a Card Scanner

The patent is titled “Video game controller-driven information transfer” and was filed in March 2025. The patent registered earlier this month describes hardware capable of transferring information through a controller.

The concept resembles contactless payment systems found in stores. Users could bring a compatible card close to the controller to transfer its information.

According to the patent, the system could potentially support purchases of games, add-ons, and virtual currency. The illustrations also show a possible method for registering gift cards through the controller.

The controller could theoretically transfer the relevant payment information without requiring users to manually enter every detail.

This Does Not Mean the Feature Is Coming

Patent filings do not guarantee that Sony will introduce the technology in a consumer product. The company could develop the concept further, change it, or never implement it at all.

For now, the patent simply provides another look at how future PlayStation hardware could handle digital purchases. A controller-based payment system could eventually offer another way to buy games and content directly through PlayStation.