According to a list published by the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), Sony has been granted a patent for a new technology that allows it to operate VR games with its feet.
The patent description shows that the device includes a ball large enough to be manipulated by a human with both feet, and a support device that supports the ball from below, limiting the ball's translation. Users can manipulate the sphere to rotate in any direction for different game interactions.
Sony describes a variety of foot controller designs in the patent, including single sphere, double sphere, bowl, etc.
In the patent filing, Sony also said that one of the main problems with current VR and AR manipulation methods is that the movement of handheld controllers is limited and does not support natural movement. In open-world games, where the in-game environment is expansive, this problem can lead to a decrease in game immersion.
