In a surprise drop on a random Tuesday, Sony has revealed the look and features of the next generation controller for its upcoming PlayStation 5 console. With the “DualSense” controller, the line of “Dual Shock” has seemingly come to an end. The controller, available in two initial color schemes, will launch alongside the PlayStation 5 later this year.
Announced on the PlayStation.blog website, the “DualSense” controller will further enhance the features gamers loved about the Dual Shock 4. While I personally am not a huge fan of parallel analog sticks, the Dual Shock 4 is a rather great controller to hold from a comfort perspective. While the design of the DualSense does look a bit bigger in some ways, it’s unclear until you get it in your hands just how you’ll come to grips, quite literally, with it.
The DualSense controller has a bevy of new features, including the much talked about Haptic Feedback system that allows games to use a tugging or weighted approach to performing certain actions like needing more pressure to pull back a bowstring on a bow. While not every game will require it, likely to allow a wide range of accessibility options, it’s still an impressive concept if pulled off.
The Haptic feedback will also add “a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud." The controller also feature more detailed “Adaptive” triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons, that allow you to "feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow." as I have mentioned before.
From a comfort point of view, at least without having the controller in one’s hands, the angle of the hand triggers were changed to offer up a more comfortable grip. The controller will still feature the much touted internal battery, and the hardware engineers wanted to make sure that cramming all these new features into the controller, along with said battery, didn’t make the controller heavy or bulky in any shape or form.
The controller will also see a built in microphone, making it even easier to talk with friends without the need of a bulky headset, though, headsets are still compatible with the console if that is your preference. The light bar of the Dual Shock 4 was also moved to "give it an extra pop." and has been moved to either side of the touch pad, instead of its placement on the top of the controller. The light bar and if it has any new features hasn’t been talked about yet, nor how the next generation of PSVR will be on the platform. Given how popular PSVR was with the PS4, it’s unclear if we’ll have to wait for the new headset or if it will launch alongside the console later this year.
While the PlayStation share button has certainly seen a lot of use from its millions and millions of users, not to mention the millions of content creators, the Share feature is changing for the better. The “Create” button will replace it and more details on this feature will be revealed closer to the PlayStation 5’s launch. Sony wants to make sharing and creating content to be even easier and more detailed, so we shall see what that all means at a later date.
From a design point of view, the two-toned look is something that gamers will love or hate. I’m not personally crazy about it as it looks a bit third party, but there will undoubtedly be different color options available at or around launch, including a much better looking black model.
More details from Jim Ryan, President & CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment:
“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5. The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”
At this point, the look of the PlayStation 5 itself, its price and release date are a mystery to its fans and many doubt due to the global health crisis that the console will even launch this year. Regardless, Sony has had a very odd release of information for its upcoming console that is set to build upon the PlayStation brand as its console dominance this cycle begins to continue to its new platform. For more details about the PS5 and all future consoles, keep checking back often.