Dualshock 5, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s next-generation controller for PS5, will seemingly be using biofeedback to modify user-experience. According to a new Sony Patent, the controller will feature sensors to gather biofeedback from the user’s hands during normal use.

The sensor on one or both sides of Dualshock 5 grips are going to track electrodermal activity (sweat secretion) and heart-rate. The biofeedback will then be used by the PlayStation 5 to make adjustments to a user’s gaming experience. How exactly will this happen and what changes we can expect is unknown.

The patent doesn’t specify the changes this system is capable of making to your experience. However, the patent does mention using images captured of the user which indicates that part of it may depend on the PlayStation Camera as well.

biofeedback information is used to select between one or more options presented in a piece of content without the user having to provide further input.

The goal of the patent, as described by the document, is to provide “an immersive and highly interactive experience for players.” The patent indicates that the feature is designed to work with Virtual Reality which means Sony plans to take VR experiences to a whole new level.

There is a desire in computer gaming to provide an immersive and highly interactive experience for players, so as to enhance the enjoyment of the player. This has become of particular interest with the increasing availability of head-mounted displays.

The biofeedback will help the system understand a user’s emotional responses during gameplay. When users are experiencing emotional responses their sweat glands may be stimulated and thus a change in the electrodermal activity can be measured. The patent seems very interesting and can help developers create better, more immersive gameplay experiences. However, this also raises concerns about your Biofeedback data being shared or possibly sold to third-parties.