The tech giants, Sony, have announced a new system of hardware aimed at trading card games (TCG). Project Field is the next step in the evolution of card games, such as Pokémon. (Pun definitely intended.)

Sony’s Project Field will use specially designed game pads which are to be paired with smartphones or tablets. The game pads will contain an Integrated Circuit (IC) card reader, touch sensors, LED displays, and Bluetooth connectivity to pair the pads with appropriate devices such as tablets and smartphones that are running Project Field compatible games. This will allow your mobile device to keep the scores of your games.

Players will be able to move their cards on the game pad, and their movements will correspond with actions in normal gameplay. This technology has been present in Japan for quite some time. Japanese arcades have IC card based games, but this is the first time that experience is being moved to mobile devices for home use. No official release date has been given, nor has Sony announced if the hardware will be sold internationally. The first title for Project Field will be a Yo-kai Watch game, which is based on the role playing games, manga, and anime series of the same name.

Trading card games have been around for ages and many video game developers have taken their intellectual properties and turned them into card games. Blizzard’s Hearthstone and Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls: Legends are two such examples. However, many current TCGs are switching to digital format. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, Magic: The Gathering, and others have video game counterparts, but many TCG players prefer the feel of cards in their hands. Luckily, Project Field takes a leap to bridge the gap for both physical and digital players.

What do you think of Sony’s innovation to combine digital and physical trading card gaming? Is it something you would pay for if released in the US? Let us know in the comments section below and stay tuned to DFTG for all of your gaming news.