A couple of weeks after spilling some of the PlayStation 5 specs, Sony is giving us our first look at the PS5 controller.
DualSense is the new controller for the PlayStation 5. While it's got the same basic design as the DualShock controllers that Sony has used for previous PlayStation consoles, this PS5 controller definitely is definitely different.
Two of the big changes Sony made to the DualSense aren't even visible when you're looking at it. First is haptic feedback, which Sony says it added to give you "a variety of powerful sensations" while you play.
The DualSense controller also includes adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons to help you better feel the tension of what you're doing on screen, like drawing an arrow with a bow.
Sony is also working to improve the feel of the DualSense. This includes changing the angle of the hand triggers and making subtle updates to the grip. Sony also worked to balance features of the DualSense like giving the rechargeable battery long life while also reducing the overall weight of the controller as much as possible. Speaking of a rechargeable battery, there appears to be a USB-C port on the top of the DualSense.
On the face of the controller, the DualSense swaps the "Share" button found on the DualShock 4 for a "Create" button. Sony isn't saying much about this button's functionality yet, promising only that it's "pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves."
The DualSense controller adds a built-in microphone array so that you can chat with your friends without needing to put on a headset. The light bar has moved, too, going from the top of the DualShock 4 to each side of the touch pad on the DualSense.
Other small tweaks that we notice about this DualSense controller compared to the PS4's DualShock 4 include moving the arrows around the d-pad into the buttons themselves and the fact that the Triangle, Circle, Square, and Cross buttons are now gray rather than green, pink, orange, and blue. Also, the entire controller itself features a two-tone paint job.
This is definitely one of the bigger shake-ups that Sony has had with its PlayStation controller. Not only are there new features inside the DualSense, like haptic feedback and adaptive controllers, but the overall design has been updated in a big way, too. It's tough to really know how the DualSense will feel and perform without actually getting one in our hands, but the updated design does look like Sony has worked to make it more comfortable to hold.
What do you think of the DualSense controller for the PS5?