Huawei Working on Transformable Controller

Chinese technology giant Huawei has filed a patent for a handheld video game controller that can be modified into various shapes depending on the player's desired configuration. Huawei has previously released unique game consoles for Chinese audiences, along with a series of popular mobile phones, and the tech powerhouse is now entering the fray of customizable gaming controllers.

Huawei Technologies is a Chinese multinational corporation that acts as designer, developer, and manufacturer of a vast array of technological equipment including telecommunications devices, consumer electronics, and even solar products. The company is frequently compared to Sony, as both entities share a similar catalog of tech developments. As Sony is also working on new controller patents, Huawei is keeping pace with its own video game hardware offerings.

A new patent reveals that Huawei is developing a new handheld video game controller made of interconnecting pieces that can be separated and reconnected, allowing players to completely modify the controller. The pieces connect to a central «base component,» which the separate pieces can be reattached to in a number of ways. Examples given in the patent include a number of weapon configurations, a steering wheel shape, and a wider grip layout. Huawei notes that the intent of this controller design would be to give each individual player the freedom to modify the device to fit their own physical needs, gameplay style, and creative designs. With a variety of customizable video game controllers already on the market, Huawei is working to provide its own offering, though there is no guarantee that this controller will ever be manufactured and sold to consumers.

Figures 28-32 of the Huawei handheld video game controller patent show a number of potential modifications that can be made to suit players' needs. A steering wheel setup and two gun configurations can be seen, highlighting the possible uses of a modifiable controller. The individual