Suddenly announced: the PlayStation 5 controller, nicknamed DualSense. Sony's new design definitely screams "next-gen". With its two-tone design and blue LED borders around the touchpad, it looks like it could have stepped out of a secret Alienware lair in Austin, Texas. If you ask me, there's not much difference in raw aesthetics between this and the Alienware gaming mouse or the AW510H gaming headset. Or perhaps it's a cheap recreation of EVE from "Wall-E" (obviously a clever comparison, since two people have told me that so far).
Beyond the new styling and slightly rounded (and ergonomic) shape, the DualSense has a lot in common with the DualShock 4, which is currently familiar to many console and PC gamers. At the very least, there are several new "immersive" features that will keep players engaged, Sony said in a blog post. [SEA President and CEO Jim Ryan said, "The DualSense is a departure from previous controllers and represents our strong desire to make a generational leap forward with PS5. This new controller, along with the many innovative features coming to PS5, continues PlayStation's mission to transform gaming and push the boundaries of play now and in the future. I would like to thank all PlayStation users for joining us on this exciting journey as we prepare for the launch of PS5™ in 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the design of the console, in the coming months."
[6For one thing, they're keeping that signature parallel thumb stick. That, and a trigger that can't be accidentally pressed when you're in bed. The "Share" button will also remain, and a new "Create" button will be added to allow "new ways for players to create epic gameplay content.
While it won't add much functionality on our gaming PCs, we hope that Steam's controller support will be able to take advantage of the new haptic feedback. There will also be "adaptive triggers" that will "allow you to truly feel the tension of your actions, like when you draw your bow and release an arrow," which might be nice for "Horizon Zero Dawn 2.
Hopefully when this wireless pad arrives, it will connect easily to my gaming PC. At least PC setup for the DS4 was easy; the Xbox console pad was a bit tricky to get up and running at first, as Microsoft included its own wireless adapter to allow connection of the basic first-generation controller, but since then, adding Bluetooth made connection a little easier.
Now, what do you think about the PS5 controller, or DualSense, enough to beat the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and take the top spot for best PC controller today? Probably not at first glance, but then again, it probably won't cost $180.
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