Sony's next-gen controller chatter is heating up thanks to a newly surfaced patent describing a radically different input concept. The key idea is a controller that leans on touch-based surfaces—potentially even dual touch screens—so elements like the D-pad or face buttons could be remapped, resized, or repositioned depending on the game or your preference. That's a big deal for accessibility and genre flexibility: imagine swapping to a fighting-game layout for a quick match, then pivoting to a radial-menu-heavy RPG setup without relearning muscle memory. Comic Book's report frames this as "next gen" controller intel rather than a confirmed product feature, which is the right mindset—patents often explore possibilities that never ship, but they do reveal what a company is actively thinking about. You can dig into the details via Comic Book's breakdown of the PlayStation controller patent and what it could mean.
Practical expectations for touch controls still come down to feel, failure cases, and game design support—so temper the hype and focus on the trade-offs. Touch surfaces can enable dynamic UI, macros, and context-sensitive overlays, but they also introduce "no-look" accuracy problems that physical buttons solve effortlessly, especially in high-stakes action where feedback matters. If Sony does push further into hybrid inputs, the best-case scenario is optionality: touch as an enhancement, not a replacement. In the meantime, it's worth grounding the conversation in what Sony is shipping now on PS5—like the kind of cinematic marketing you see in PlayStation's official Ghost of Yōtei announce trailer—because platform transitions tend to be evolutionary, not overnight revolutions. And if you want to keep your current setup smooth while the rumor mill spins, the most universal "download instruction" here is simple: on PS5, go to Settings → System → System Software → System Software Update and Settings to grab the latest firmware, then enable Automatic Updates so your controller and console features stay current.
HBO's leadership is now openly signaling that Season 3 of The Last of Us could be the final season. In an interview discussed by Video Games Chronicle, HBO boss Casey Bloys responded to a question about whether Season 3 would be the last with, "It certainly seems that way", while also noting that final decisions sit with the showrunners. If that direction holds, it's a meaningful shift from earlier expectations that the adaptation might run longer, and it raises immediate structure questions for viewers who know how much story remains—particularly the The Last of Us Part II material that's hard to compress without losing the emotional "why" behind its biggest swings. For context on the game's tone and the scale of what an adaptation is trying to translate, revisit [PlayStation's The Last of Us Part II reveal trailer from PlayStation Experience 2016.
A shorter runway means the show will have to prioritize clarity over completeness, especially around Abby's arc and the story's final landing. The challenge isn't just pacing; it's viewpoint—Part II demands time to make unfamiliar choices feel earned, and that's where TV adaptations can either sharpen a narrative or flatten it. If you're following the series week-to-week, the easiest watch-and-download workflow is to keep it frictionless: update your streaming app on console (PS5 or Xbox), enable automatic app updates, and download episodes for offline viewing when your service supports it—handy for commutes and avoiding spoilers. And if you're re-playing while you watch, turning on Performance Mode, checking HDR calibration, and tweaking controller sensitivity are the small "settings meta" moves that make revisit playthroughs feel fresh.
Final Fantasy VII's 29th anniversary landed on January 31, 2026, marking 29 years since the game's original Japanese release on January 31, 1997. To celebrate, early concept art attributed to creative leadership around the original project has resurfaced in public conversation—most notably imagery featuring Cloud and what appears to be an earlier story beat involving a dragon confrontation, plus a cut character concept sometimes referred to as "Johnny the Needle". This is the fun kind of archival reveal because it doesn't just show unused sketches—it hints at an alternate shape for the cast and the tone, where a gun-wielding concept character could have steered certain scenes into a different vibe entirely. You can see the official social post that kicked up much of the discussion through [the Final Fantasy VII social update sharing the anniversary material.
The bigger takeaway is how these early ideas feed today's anticipation for the next chapter of the Remake project. When concept art reminds you how fluid FFVII was in development, it also reframes speculation about what Part 3 might be called and how it might land its finale—because this series has always been comfortable reinventing itself. If you want a clean refresher on the modern tone and stakes before the next reveal cycle starts, the best "download-and-watch" step is simply to queue up Square Enix's latest big swing: the FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH final trailer. And if you're deep in replay mode, consider the practical prep: keep a dedicated save slot before major chapter breaks, make sure your PS5 storage has room for patches and capture clips, and back up saves via cloud sync—because nothing kills momentum like a forced uninstall right when the story gets good.
Watch the quick video breakdown of this announcement:
Other major stories from today’s gaming news:
Primary sources referenced for this article:
Learn more about the games featured in this article:
For a visual summary of today's gaming news, complete with engaging gameplay footage, check out our YouTube video below. It's a quick and entertaining way to catch up on the highlights!
I hope you enjoyed this comprehensive dive into the latest gaming news. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it's always thrilling to be at the forefront, sharing these updates with fellow enthusiasts like you.
For a deeper and more interactive experience, visit Mithrie - Gaming News (YouTube). If you enjoyed this content, please subscribe to support independent gaming journalism and stay updated on future content. Share your thoughts in the comments after watching the video; your feedback means a lot to me. Let's continue this gaming journey together, one video at a time!
I have been creating gaming content since August 2013, and went full-time in 2018. Since then, I have published hundreds of gaming news videos and articles. I have had a passion for gaming for more than 30 years!
Connect: LinkedIn | Professional Portfolio
Mithrie.com is a Gaming News website owned and operated by Mazen Turkmani. I am an independent individual and not part of any company or entity.
Mithrie.com does not have any advertising or sponsorships at this time for this website. The website may enable Google Adsense in the future. Mithrie.com is not affiliated with Google or any other news organization.
Mithrie.com uses AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini to increase the length of articles for further readablity. The news itself is kept accurate by manual review from Mazen Turkmani.
The news stories on Mithrie.com are selected by me based on their relevance to the gaming community. I strive to present the news in a fair and unbiased manner, and I always link to the original source of the news story or provide screenshots in the video above.