The PS5's dual-sense controller may be able to identify who is holding it by sensing how the user is gripping it.

A new patent discovered by SegmentNext details a system that uses sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers to effectively figure out how a particular user is holding the controller. From there, it can determine who is holding the controller and allow them to automatically log into the corresponding PlayStation Network account or PS5 user profile. Such a feature would be useful in homes where many PlayStation account holders are using a single console.

"As Internet connectivity for game consoles becomes more prevalent," the patent explains, "it is becoming increasingly common to be able to log in with the same user account you use on your console when playing on another console." This is desirable because users may be able to track their in-game progress and access account-specific content even when they are playing at a friend's house."

The patent details how telemetry data is taken by the controller and used to effectively create a profile of the user when the user manually logs into his or her account. Then, each time the user uses the controller, the controller detects its unique grip and automatically logs into the PSN or PS5 profile.

This is a small thing, but another way to make console gaming seamless and hassle-free; add features like this on top of the PS5's super-fast loading times with SSD storage, and we could see a very intuitive next-generation console.

It is unclear whether such a system could be retrofitted to the dual-sense controller via a software update or whether it would require a new controller or add-on to aid grip sensing. Since the patent states that the technology can work with other devices like the PSVR headset and Move Motion controllers, it is likely that it will be a software-based system that uses the PS5's processing power to analyze the data absorbed by the controller's sensors.

Since the PS5 is scheduled to launch in a few months, it is unlikely that the DualSense controller will have such capabilities at launch. However, it is possible that later upgrades and firmware updates will be made to unlock this exciting new feature.