As the launch date of the PlayStation 5 nears (cause that’s what Sony claims), the company has begun revealing more and more about this new console. Initially, Sony had bragged about the ultra-high-speed SSD, custom AMD GPU and what not. However, multiple reports started emerging online. And they stated that the upcoming Xbox Series X will be much more powerful than the PlayStation 5. On the back foot from the beginning, Sony is not one to take that. They had to do something. So, Sony has now officially introduced, the new wireless controller for the PS5 – the DualSense. And this is something that I think will be a major part of the PS5 experience.
Sony PS5 DualSense Controller Overview
If I remember correctly, the DualShock 4 was launched in the year 2013, and it was a revolutionary controller. It had haptic feedback, a touch-pad, a light-bar and what not. Truly a revolutionary controller. However, users over time have grown bored of it. As a result, for a long time now, fans of PlayStation had been demanding an upgrade in the controller. And finally, we have it.
The new DualSense controller for PS5 seemingly builds upon the legacy set by the DualShock 4. It retains some of the features of its predecessor but does bring in a couple of huge improvements. First and foremost, there’s a change in design and the color tone of the controller. At first glance, the build of the controller seems similar to that of the Xbox One. The cut-angles are similar. However, thankfully the buttons and the analog stick still remain in the same position. This design is primarily because Sony has brought in a lot of improvements. They have improved the haptic feedback on this one. Obviously, the sense of touch is something that affects the gaming experience. I would say it is as necessary as the audio. Thus, it is great that they have incorporated improved haptic feedback on the new DualSense.
Moreover, they have fit in the adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons too. This, along with an improved rechargeable battery and an added built-in microphone array has forced them to change the design of the controller. Furthermore, this new design supposedly fits any type of hand. Well, that is something we’ll have to see for ourselves, but I do hope it’s true.
Moving on, the Share button from the DualShock 4 is now gone. It has now been replaced by a “Create” button. Now, Sony has not yet revealed more about what exactly this create button allows you to do. However, they have mentioned that it will allow gamers to customize the content that they share at a more personal level. But its exact functioning still remains a mystery. Oh, and they have re-positioned the light bar too. This is something they have added for legacy support and it now sits on either side of the touchpad.
The color tone of the controller has changed too. Previously, all the PS controllers used to be of a single color tone. However, this time around they have opted to go with a mixture of black and white. I did read some comments where people complained about the contrast, but I personally welcome this change. I mean it was getting monotonous. Now we have something that looks funkier. Anyway, do comment below about how you feel regarding this change in color tone.
Overall, as with everything, the new DualSense controller on the first look has its own set of positives and negatives. I personally am glad that they have incorporated a built-in mic and adaptive triggers for L2 and R2. The shape of the controller could have been more subtle, but I guess it is something that will grow on after usage. That’s that about the design and the features of the DualSense. How it feels to use this controller and whether or not it robust is another matter. Well, we can reach a decision regarding it only after using it. But for right now, I cannot wait to get my hands on this new controller.