Sony is building a better PlayStation 5 controller with Project Leonardo. The kit promises to make the game easier to play for people with limited motor control. In the first image, Project Leonardo is a set of circular gamepads with buttons and directional input methods, all customizable. According to Sony, the system works “out of the box” with his PS5, allowing players to create their ideal gamepad by mapping buttons, swapping out hardware his bits, and creating individual profiles. I can do it.
Project Leonardo can be used alone or in combination with the DualSense controller. PS5 can read up to 2 Leonardo and 1 DualSense as one gamepad. This gives players flexibility and allows others to control the game.

Sony
The hardware includes four 3.5mm AUX ports to accommodate a variety of existing accessibility accessories and switches. The controller itself can be laid flat on a table or mounted on a tripod. It doesn’t have to be held. Sony partnered with a handful of organizations such as AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and Stack Up when designing Project Leonardo.
With Project Leonardo, Sony takes a clear cue from Microsoft, a leader in accessibility technology, especially in games. Microsoft released his Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018. It featured many of the same selling points as Sony’s new take, but in a longer, flatter package. Microsoft has a new lab focused on building inclusive hardware and his five-year plan to improve the tech environment for people with disabilities.
On the PlayStation Blog, Sony designer Sou Morimoto explains Project Leonardo: “Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts looking for an approach that would help address the key challenges of using controllers effectively. We settled on a “split controller” design that allows almost free-form left/right thumbstick repositioning. It can be used without having to hold it and features a very flexible button and stick cap exchange. ”
There is no release period for Project Leonardo.
There was more positive PS5 news from Sony’s CES press conference today — PlayStation head Jim Ryan declared an official end to the PS5 shortage, stating: Point ahead. or should do it Of course, you’re lifting a lot of heavy weights.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by an editorial team independent of the parent company. Some stories contain affiliate links. When you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publication.