The lack of rumble force feedback in the SIXAXIS PS3 controller is a disappointment for gamers and developers alike. Sony said it felt that rumble was technology of gaming past, and that its motion sensing technology is the future.

Sony positions the two controller technologies as mutually exclusive, though Nintendo has proven that both can coexist with its Wii Remote. Industry insiders, however, point to Sony’s legal tiff with Immersion, who has patent claim on vibrating controllers, as the main reason for the SIXAXIS omission.

News of a Sony and Immersion truce emerged on March 1, and opened the door for PlayStation 3 to someday regain some of its shake. While Sony tends to remain very tightlipped when it comes to future products, SCEA CEO Jack Tretton said in an interview with GamePro that he’s “open to changing the Sixaxis controller.”

“We used to have a narrow approach to controllers. If you really wanted to [move outside the standard controller], we left it up to third party manufacturers,” Tretton told the magazine. “But now we're moving to a regional approach. You will see peripherals coming from SCEA that will address the interests of the U.S. consumer. I don't have anything to tell you specifically, but we're certainly open to changing the Sixaxis controller if it addressed North American gamers.”

The formation of an agreement between Sony and Immersion may not have immediate impact on products on the market today. It’s unlikely that Sony paid the settlement just to use vibration into its PlayStation 4 or PSP 2. For that reason, many are expecting to see rumble products in the current generation.

Following the conclusion of litigation, Immersion CEO Victor Viegas said, “Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community. We are happy to provide our technology in this regard and hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products.”

Kazuo Hirai, President and Group COO of SCEI, also reverberated intentions to bring Immersion-enabled products to Sony products. “We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies,” Hirai said.

Full story: