Rumours Out Rumbling PS3 Controller
Is Sony about to announce a vibrating Sixaxis at TGS this week? We ask Sony to come clean.
The scuffle between Sony and technology company Immersion was a long and messy affair that ultimately ended up with the two falling out and the rumble feature from past PlayStation controllers being left out of the PS3 one. But Sony and Immersion have since made up, and rumours suggest the PS3's controller could soon be vibrating too.
According to US site 1Up, Sony's incoming global boss, Kaz Hirai, is planning to shock the world by unveiling a new rumble-enabled model of the PS3 controller at this year's Tokyo Game Show, which starts later this week.
The timing is right. In March, Sony and Immersion brought an end to their legal tussle, saying that they were working together to include Immersion's rumble technology in the pad.
In an interview with Kikizo in July, Hirai said the PS3 controller was an "evolving peripheral". He said that the current PS3 pad is "not the final model" and that Sony is looking to incorporate rumble in response to consumer demand.
Naturally, Sony has declined to speak directly on the matter, brushing us off with a "No comment" when we asked for clarification.
Hirai will be delivering a keynote address at the Tokyo Game Show on Thursday morning.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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