We still don’t know what the PlayStation 5 will look like, but Sony today showed off the upcoming video game console’s controller.
The company gave the public its first look at the “DualSense” wireless gamepad, which Sony has started shipping to developers so they can begin customizing their games around it.
The new look features two colors instead of a single color scheme. The controller also retains the same layout as the DualShock 4 model, but it’s been outfitted with a curvier shell case. (Some might even say it looks a bit like the controller for the rival Xbox Series X.)
Side by side of DualSense controller with Xbox Series X controller
“After thoughtful consideration, we decided to keep much of what gamers love about DualShock 4 intact, while also adding new functionality and refining the design,” Sony VP Hideaki Nishino wrote in today's announcement.
One notable change you can’t really see on the controller is the addition of a built-in microphone. So you’ll be able to play multiplayer games without wearing a headset.
DualSense side view
Sony is calling the gamepad DualSense due to the improved haptic feedback, which can shake the controller at varying degrees of intensity to make you feel like you're experiencing the gameplay in real life. To immerse you even more, the company has now placed “adaptive triggers” into the L2 and R2 buttons, “so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow,” Nishino said.
“Based on our discussions with developers, we concluded that the sense of touch within gameplay, much like audio, hasn’t been a big focus for many games,” he added.
The potential downside of adding more haptic feedback is how it can drain the controller's battery. However, Sony is indicating it was able to add the new features to the DualSense gamepad without diminishing the rechargeable battery life or loading too much added weight on to the device.
Closer view of the controller.
The company ended up refining the new DualSense controller by going through hundreds of mockup models over the last few years before settling on the final design. Other minor changes including replacing the "Share" button for a new "Create" knob, and splitting the light bar at the top into two separate bars that now flank the central touchpad.
“DualSense has been tested by a wide range of gamers with a variety of hand sizes, in order for us to achieve the comfort level we wanted, with great ergonomics,” Nishino added. “Our goal with DualSense is to give gamers the feeling of being transported into the game world as soon as they open the box.”
Look for more details about the PS5's final look in the coming months. Expect the system to go on sale some time this holiday season, where it'll compete with Microsoft's Xbox Series X.
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