While it looks somewhat like a stylised art deco sculpture, Sony’s new Project Leonardo that was revealed at CES 2023 has far more practical uses and vastly more potential as it’s a special customisable controller for differently-abled people to enjoy gaming on the PlayStation 5.

What is Sony’s Project Leonardo?

In essence, Project Leonardo is a set of circular-shaped controllers with each ‘petal’ corresponding to a specific button or control on a standard PS5 controller. Its customisability enables users to remap the buttons and swap the hardware around such as analog stick caps and buttons that are issued in different shapes and sizes to create a truly personalised controller that can cater to a specific player’s needs. While it is able to lie flat without the need to be held in the hands like a conventional controller, it can also be secured to a tripod or AMPS mount for easier use.

According to Sony, the controller is designed to  work ‘out of the box’ and was designed in consultation with accessibility experts like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and StackUp. Project Leonardo can be used on its own or with an additional Project Leonardo controller or DualSense wireless controller with a theoretical maximum of up to two Project Leonardo Controllers and one Dualsense wireless controller working together as a single virtual controller for more flexibility and collaborative play. The device also has four additional 3.5mm AUX ports to support external switches and third-party accessibility accessories too.

“Project Leonardo is part of the PS5 product family and is based on the same design concept. We were inspired by the idea of all players enjoying the world of PlayStation together. Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges to effective controller use. We finally settled on a ‘split controller’ design that allows near free-form left/right thumbstick repositionability, can be used without needing to be held, and features very flexible button and stick cap swapping. 

“Because players can customize Project Leonardo according to their needs, there is no one ‘right’ form factor. We want to empower them to create their own configurations. The controller can also flexibly accept combinations of accessibility accessories to create a unique aesthetic. I am excited that the design will be completed through collaboration with players rather than presenting them with a single form factor.” said So  Morimoto, who is part of Project Leonardo.

When will Project Leonardo be available in the market?

At present Project Leonardo isn’t intended for production or deployment anytime soon but it’s a wonderful step in the right direction to empower differently-abled gamers to enjoy the games that we all love. For more details on Sony’s Project Leonardo at CES 2023, check out their official post here.