A patent has been uncovered that details how Sony is to work on a PlayStation controller that can also be used with Xbox360 and Nintendo consoles. The game controller will be an LCD display based device that will display different key layouts depending on what console is being used.

The inventors write:

“A game console controller includes a hand-holdable housing and a touch sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) on the housing. The LCD is caused to present, depending on what type of game console a user has selected, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console. A key layout includes plural keys selectable by a user to input commands to a game console.”

Further details of the filed patent state that just like remote controls, game consoles, and thus game controllers are becoming widespread. It is not surprising to find more than one game consoles in a household, especially when competing game console manufacturers attempt to attract unconventional consumer groups in the gaming industry. As understood herein, it would be useful to have a universal controller that would be able to work with a variety of game consoles.

Source: USPTO