Introducing DualSense, the New Wireless Game Controller for PlayStation 5

1,751 0
Introducing DualSense, the New Wireless Game Controller for PlayStation 5

See the first images of DualSense, which will bring the sense of touch to PS5 gameplay.

We’ve reached an exciting milestone with PlayStation 5, as we’re starting to ship our new controller in its final design to developers who are implementing its unique features into their games. But first, we wanted everyone in the PlayStation community to get a first look at the DualSense™ wireless controller, and hear our vision for how the new controller will captivate more of your senses as you interact with the virtual worlds in PS5 games. The features of DualSense, along with PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, will deliver a new feeling of immersion to players.

When PS4 launched in 2013, the DualShock 4 wireless controller garnered a lot of positive feedback from gamers and developers for being the best PlayStation controller yet, and for introducing forward-looking features like the Share button. This brought us to the next question – how do we build upon that success?

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. 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. We had a great opportunity with PS5 to innovate by offering game creators the ability to explore how they can heighten that feeling of immersion through our new controller. This is why we adopted haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud. We also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow.

This provided us with an exciting challenge to design a new controller that builds off of the current generation, while taking into account the new features we were adding. For example, with adaptive triggers, we had to consider how the components would fit into the hardware, without giving it a bulky feeling. Our design team worked closely with our hardware engineers to place the triggers and actuators. The designers were then able to draw the lines of how the exterior of the controller would look and feel, with a challenge of making the controller feel smaller than it really looks. In the end, we changed the angle of the hand triggers and also made some subtle updates to the grip. We also took thoughtful consideration into ways to maintain a strong battery life for DualSense’s rechargeable battery, and to lessen the weight of the controller as much as possible as new features were added.

For the buttons, you’ll notice there is no longer a “Share” button as we had with DualShock 4. Don’t worry – it’s not going away. In fact, we’ve built upon the success of our industry-first Share button to bring you a new “Create” button feature. With Create, we’re once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves. We’ll have more details on this feature as we get closer to launch.

DualSense also adds a built-in microphone array, which will enable players to easily chat with friends without a headset – ideal for jumping into a quick conversation. But of course, if you are planning to chat for a longer period, it’s good to have that headset handy.

Now, let’s talk about the colors. Traditionally our base controllers have a single color. As you can see, we went a different direction this time around, and decided on a two-toned design. Additionally, we changed the position of the light bar that will give it an extra pop. On DualShock 4, it sat on the top of the controller; now it sits at each side of the touch pad, giving it a slightly larger look and feel.

In all, we went through several concepts and hundreds of mockups over the last few years before we settled on this final design. 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. Our goal with DualSense is to give gamers the feeling of being transported into the game world as soon as they open the box. We want gamers to feel like the controller is an extension of themselves when they’re playing – so much so that they forget that it’s even in their hands!

We are thrilled about sharing the final look of the DualSense controller with our fans, and we can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it! I’d like to close with a message from SIE President & CEO Jim Ryan to the community:


“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.”

– Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment

“DualSense” is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

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1,751 Comments

  • Really no headphone jack? Really???

  • Brooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • I can’t wait for the matching console to this new controller, love the new two tone look, imagine the endless combinations.

  • No back button attachment, no hair trigger mode?
    You’ve at least gotta do better than Xbox’s elite series 2…. as a next gen controller as well!

  • So futuristic, I love it.

  • I LOVE IT! It’s true to the originals but really different and innovative! More attune to like an Xbox controller(which even though I am a PS fan, I hear great things about the Xbox controller). I just wish that the shape buttons would light up like LED with the colors(the green triangle, the purple X, etc.)

    If this is any indication how the PS5 will look however, I would not be thrilled. I hope the PS5 isn’t white and black. The problem being that white over time gets yellowish and dirty looking and from what I know there’s no way to clean it once it’s stained…

    But PLEASE PS, make a Retro version of this eventually, I LOVE the see-through ones! <3

  • Looks like if Xbox one and PlayStation 4 controllers had a baby

  • Why haven’t they picked up on a lot of controllers using ‘paddles’ or buttons under the controller like Scuffs? Or are they omitting them so 3rd party companies can make better controllers? Also like the idea of the buttons lighting up not the current leds. Looking forward to PS5 though!!

  • i don’t know how the mic would help if the controller buttons make noise and especially with the vibrations and all

  • My hand barely fit a dualshock 4, I’m not using this thing. Looks like ps4 is my last console generation, unless they wake up and give me a properly shaped controller. No comfort at all in holding Xbox or switch style bulk for more than 20 minutes at a time.

  • This control looks sick!!! However, I’d honestly be pissed off if they really bust out and say that they ain’t doing a backwards compatibility for all older 1st generation PS1 games, and only up to PS4 games. That will be the day I would cancel my yearly subscription from Playstation+, sell my ps4, and get the new Xbox instead. They get it. 💯

  • I really love the design and look of the new controller and look forward to seeing how it feels in my hands. However, I don’t care for the white, personally, even though it looks fine. I hope we can get an all black controller in the near future.

    I love that you guys are breaking out and trying new things. Keep innovating!

    • We’ve also had a black color controller and console when a new system is release since the PS2 era. I think it’s finally about time that Sony release a new color for this release.

  • I’m sorry but the way they are revealing the PS5 is ridiculous. Now is the perfect time to fully reveal it with a lot of the country on lockdown.

    • I agree! Plus I like to know what the price is so I can save up money before it’s released at the end of the this year.

  • This thing looks awesome! Can’t wait to see what the console looks like now :D

    • FatalLightning-X

      Same here. Question: will there be the option to turn off the microphone on the controller for PS5?

  • Just give me an all black design and I’m sold.

  • Put a headphone jack in there, now

  • Yo I can’t wait For the PS5

  • Love it…please add back buttons (:

  • FatalLightning-X

    This controller looks kool! Much more futuristic,and more detailed than the other PlayStation Controllers. I look forward to adding this controller to my collection.0

  • SullieLoreTwitch

    I get the DuelSense duel colour scheme. However, please make a dark controller for launch. You said you want players to “forget that it’s even in their hands,” but I fear that will be difficult with something so starkly white.

    The haptic and triggers sound awesome!

  • I hope the handles are not too big, I am woman and have little hands😞
    And I play claw, hopefully you guys dont mess up the size as the dualshock4 is already big enough for me

  • Looks like a freakin XBox controller!!

  • I like it, but Dualshock 4 brought sense of touch to gaming too and look how that turned out…it was barely used.

  • Hint Hint to Production, ADD a Heart rate sensor to it, lots of opportunities for developers.

  • I actually really like the look of this controller! I will be purchasing one for myself day one and I hope they release the controller earlier than the PS5 itself as I would like to use it with my PC as well! Thanks so much for working so hard and keeping the joysticks in the same location. I really appreciate it!

  • when it becomes black or red, it be looking lit.

  • Don’t put a microphone in the controller. Don’t do that.

  • Would be nice if there was color for the buttons, and if it was a mostly black with blue accents or just black

  • I guess Im the only one that doesnt like the look of this controller, it is atrocious. This looks like an xbox controller adapter for playstation. The color scheme is just bad : /

  • Nice.

  • I love the PS4 Controller, and this looks like a nice evolution but…
    Why no Select button? Kinda hate when the touch pad is turned into multiple use buttons in the long run.

  • Hope other colors are available would love to see a black version looks like, I had a white PS4 controller it became so dirty real quick. =(

  • “And here, Mr. Wayne, is the DualSense controller.”
    “…Does it come in black?”

  • So this gen will have white theme
    Like what gray PS1 bo in game industry
    I believe PS5 will be revolutionary

  • Huge miss on Sony’s part not having paddles/bumpers by default that could have been a massive blow to Microsoft, Scuff and Razer and allowed so many more control schemes for game designers.

    If you have ever tried playing a game like War Thunder on controller you would fully understand how much of a difference just having to extra paddles make.

  • Interesting. Where is the PS button?

  • It’s absolutely hideous. If I wanted an xbox, I’d buy an xbox. That’s the first thing I thought I was looking at when I saw the pic elsewhere on the net, a picture of an xbox controller. I don’t like the design of it at all.

  • This is the most beautiful controller that I’ve ever seen!

  • I like where the lights are located… But this is an April Fools joke right?? Gives off major PS3 Prototype, UFO looking vibes.

  • Dose the new DualSense™ feature back buttons like the DS4 attachment that was released earlier this year?
    If not, I’d rather use my DS4 with back buttons.

    Thanks

  • Several friends and I don’t like the shape. To us,it is not comfy to hold. Really gets in the way of having a good time if you cant get a comfy grip on the controller. Also,please please please make it so the triggers dont move every single time we set the controller down. We are so tired of messing campaigns up due to accidentally shooting or hitting an npc.

  • Hope its not going to chunky like the Xbox controller…..

  • I love the face buttons. I hope they click!

    I love the overall design. Not at all what I expected, but as someone who loves change, it’s got me excited!

  • Awesome design Sony! I’m liking it a lot! Very futuristic controller I also like the two tone color! I really hope the console is like this too! Good job design team at Sony!

  • I find the “new” design pretty futuristic and cool (the name too) and can’t wait to test it in games myself.
    But PLEASE give us the choice to choose between this controller and a PURE black one.
    Since from PS2 – PS4 I always preferred and always will on all my PS consoles a pure black controller.
    IMHO the LED light on a pure black one on my PS4 is much more enjoyable and beautiful to look at.

  • I like the design of it and look forward to seeing how it feels in the hand as well as experiencing the haptics. It will be interesting to see what game developers do with it and if the range of tactile functions is broad enough to feel unique to different game functions.

    I’m also curious to see if the white & black color scheme finds it’s way into the console itself.

    You’ve piqued my interest, Sony. Well done.

  • Please don’t do this. The PlayStation controller has an iconic look that goes back to its birth. And it’s perfect. Please don’t do this. Our controller is already so beautiful, the shape and feel is logically balanced and fit for any gamer. This new design is a step away from a great history. The roundness immediately makes me think Xbox. And I get sick. I hate Xbox and now they’re saying we’re copying them?!? We’re better then this guys.

  • what about the back paddle buttons???? I don’t think what they have is compatible with the current version of back paddles!!!

  • feardarkknight89

    No problem with the DualSense.. Looking great 👌… When can we expect the whole console itself?

  • This has got to be fake. There’s no way Sony would release such an ugly controller.

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