The PS5’s Luxe New Controller Might Be A Game Changer
The PS5’s new controller, the DualSense, has been generating a lot of buzz in the gaming community. Not only does it feature haptic feedback technology, which allows for a more immersive gaming experience, but it also has a sleek, modern design that sets it apart from previous controllers.
One of the most exciting features of the DualSense is its haptic feedback. This technology allows the controller to mimic the sensation of different surfaces, such as rough or smooth textures, and even the recoil of a gun. This means that players will be able to feel the action of the game in a whole new way, making it more immersive and realistic.
The DualSense also has a built-in microphone, which allows players to communicate with each other without the need for a separate headset. This is a useful feature for games that rely heavily on teamwork and communication.
In terms of design, the DualSense has a sleek, futuristic look that is sure to turn heads. The controller’s white and black color scheme gives it a luxurious feel, and the new design is more ergonomic, making it more comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions.
However, all these features come at a price. The DualSense is significantly more expensive than previous controllers, which may be a barrier for some players. Additionally, some players have expressed concerns about the durability of the controller, as the white plastic may be prone to discoloration or scratching over time.
Overall, the DualSense controller is a game-changer for the PS5. Its haptic feedback technology and built-in microphone are exciting new features that will enhance the gaming experience. However, the controller’s high price and potential durability issues may be a concern for some players.
In most action-oriented video games, the shift between winning and losing a fight can happen in split seconds. The more I use the DualSense Edge and fiddle with its different settings, the more I remember moments over the years where, had I been able to change the kind of things these controllers allow I might have emerged victorious, rather than dying in the milliseconds it took me to push a trigger button down and lift my finger to release it. The controller’s adjustable triggers, which allow me to set travel distance between the standard setting and two shorter ones, are great boon for me in shooters like Overwatch, largely because they make the time to shoot just a little bit faster, but those few seconds add up as a match goes on, and a second can be the difference between a shot fired and your own HP reaching zero.
The customization also has benefits for those with chronic pain, as adjustable triggers, analog sticks of different heights, and back paddles of varying length give the DualSense Edge several avenues to adjust a standard controller in a way that makes using it more comfortable. I end up using the shorter back buttons because I have smaller hands, anyway, so it feels like a more natural fit for how I hold a controller, though some folks who have a lighter touch would likely get more benefit out of the longer paddles.
That being said, if you’re a person who has trouble holding a traditional controller, the DualSense Edge will likely not alleviate your issues. However, Sony does have the upcoming controller codenamed ”Project Leonardo” is specifically designed to be as customizable as possible for those who need that for accessibility reasons. The DualSense Edge has a lot of great options for fine-tuning your own controller experience, but it is, at the end of the day, a fairly traditional controller that might not accommodate everyone’s needs.
All of this being said, the DualSense Edge still feels like a luxury item in a lot of ways, and has some notable drawbacks for the $200 price. The one that would likely give folks pause is the battery life, which is noticeably shorter than the original DualSense (not that it had great battery life either, but I digress). However, unlike the standard controller, the DualSense Edge comes with a nearly three-meter-long braided USB cable and a connector to keep it plugged into your PlayStation 5 and charging. It’s not ideal, but if your entertainment center is set up for it, you can at least charge the DualSense Edge while playing fairly easily out of the box.
The DualSense Edge’s biggest disappointment is that despite the additional buttons, the actual customization of control schemes is entirely limited to moving existing buttons to the back of your controller. Oftentimes, when I play a game on my PlayStation that was primarily built for PC, I find myself hurting for buttons. The most recent example was Final Fantasy XIV, which I made the mistake of starting on PS5 rather than PC—navigating through that game on a controller still feels insurmountable to me on a DualSense Edge. I was hoping the additional buttons would give me a means to assign certain shorthand inputs to the other buttons, but all the back paddles really do is act as replacements for buttons that are already elsewhere on the same controller. Now that I’ve had some time with it, I realize this goes beyond the scope of what the DualSense Edge is actually meant to do, but if you’re hoping to use the controller as a way to expand your input options, this is not what you’re looking