Sony pays force feedback dev Immersion $150 million in PlayStation suit; PS3 DualShock possible after all?

5 March 2007

Posted by:Ferry

Sony agreed to pay Immersion $150.3 million to end a patent infringement suit from 2004 in which Immersion claimed consumer electronics giant Sony used its technology in the PlayStation video game consoles.

The suit stemmed from Sony’s unlicensed use of Immersion software that causes the PlayStation controller to vibrate in sync with the videogame action (also called force feedback or rumble). The so-called haptic technology was used in the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 models. Sony has not said whether the technology would now be used in the PlayStation 3 that was launched in November 2006, and which has no force feedback in Sony’s Sixaxis controller… likely as a result of this expensive lawsuit.

The agreement followed Sony’s decision to withdraw its appeal of a federal court jury decision awarding Immersion $127.8 million. In a separate, but related agreement, Sony has licensed Immersion technology for $22.5 million.

“We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of game-play experiences to our customers,” Kazuo Hirai, president and group chief operating officer for Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a joint statement with Immersion.

Victor Viegas, chief executive of Immersion continued this line of thought by saying “Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community.” Although the agreement is probably for the still-in-production PStwo, let’s hope this leads to a revised Sixaxis or PS3 DualShock 3 controller.