ps4 controller Archives

Is The DualShock 4 The Greatest Game Controller Ever?

Ben-Dutka October 19, 2015 PS4 48 Comments

For me, the original PlayStation controller had the distinction of being the first gamepad since the SNES and Genesis days that I didn't absolutely hate.

It just seemed like a logical progression from the great older controllers; it was a little bigger, it had more buttons, and it was streamlined and light. Now, the addition of the rumble in the PS2 era did nothing for me and I didn't like the retooling of the triggers in the PS3 generation, but the controller has remained fundamentally the same.

The point is, can we look at the current iteration, the DualShock 4, and say it's the greatest gamepad ever? It's longer and I think it's more comfortable than any of the previous controllers, and the button layout and triggers is just about perfect, as it has almost always been. I thought I'd really despise the touchscreen because it's a wildly unreliable tech fad that is about 1/100th as precise as pressing a button. But most developers don't try to abuse it and don't force you to do stupid things with it. In many cases, you either just swipe across or it's used as another button.

I have liked the Xbox controllers after they went away from the massive pad the original Xbox launched with, but PlayStation is still the easy winner for me. But is the PS4's controller really the best in history…?

Release Dates For Dual Shock 4s With Attractive Colors

Ben-Dutka August 5, 2014 PS4 18 Comments

When will you be able to upgrade from your boring black PlayStation 4 controller?

Amazon has just updated the release dates for three new Dual Shock 4 colors, as reported by Game Idealist . Pick your favorite!

If you really want to spruce up your entertainment center, pre-order your chosen color at Amazon now: The Wave Blue gamepad is set to launch in just a few weeks time on August 19, Glacier White is coming on September 9 (to coincide with the launch of the Glacier White PlayStation 4 system that ships with Destiny ), and the super cool Urban Camouflage will be ready to go on September 30. That might go well with the new military shooter, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare .

Now all we need is for Sony to release more colors for the PS4 console. I'm thinking a deep forest green or a royal blue…

Dual Shock 4 Now Works With The PS3, Sans The Cable

Ben-Dutka July 1, 2014 PS4 10 Comments

Wireless is the way to go.

When the PlayStation 4 launched late last year, Sony made the new Dual Shock 4 controller compatible with the PS3 if it was plugged in via USB cable. However, that meant players were limited to the very short charge cable.

Now, thanks to recent firmware update 4.60, the PS4 controller can be used wirelessly with the PS3. If you want to know how it works, check out the detailed information at Reddit . Basically, you just pair the PS4 controller with the PS3 by using the system's Bluetooth capabilities, which is relatively simple. The only downside is that many of the Dual Shock 4's features, including the PlayStation button, vibration and Sixaxis tilt controls don't work.

At the very least, though, you can turn on the PS3 using the Dual Shock 4's PS button, which you couldn't do before. So, plan on using the newer controller to play older games?

Future PS4 Update Will Let Us Dim The Controller’s Light Bar

Ben-Dutka March 20, 2014 PS4 26 Comments

Looks like we'll be able to make the Dual Shock 4 last a little longer.

Back in January, a fan asked Sony boss Shuhei Yoshida if we'd eventually be able to turn off the light bar on the PS4 controller, thereby elongating the battery life. At the time, Yoshida simply replied, "No."

But he must've thought about it a bit more, because he confirmed to Geoff Keighley at the Game Developers Conference that in fact, a future firmware update will let you dim the light bar. Keighley first reported that you'd be able to turn it off entirely, but followed up with a correction on his Twitter page . For the record, PS4 firmware update 1.70, which features an HDCP Off option for gameplay capture and a new video editing tool, is coming out soon. But we don't know if that update will let us dim the light bar.

Either way, it's good news. That light bar must drain at least some battery power, and it's ridiculous to have it on all the time.

Could We Dim The LED Light On DS4? “Sounds Reasonable”

Ben-Dutka January 22, 2014 PS4 32 Comments

The battery life of the Dual Shock 4 controller isn't that great, as you know.

The LED light has been blamed for that shorter battery life, and gamers have been wondering if Sony could do anything about it.

Previously, PS4 owners asked Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida if there'd be any way to disable the light bar in the future; specifically, for games that don't make use of the feature. Yoshida responded bluntly, "No." But maybe there's another way to save some juice…

One gamer asked Yoshida on his Twitter page if dimming the light might be a possibility. Yoshida wasn't nearly as dismissive this time, responding- "sounds reasonable." If Sony can make that happen, maybe they can indeed lengthen the lifespan of the PS4 controller. That light can be somewhat distracting sometimes, too.

Hope you've got two Dual Shock 4 controllers so one is always charging!

Sony: No Update To Disable Light Bar On Dual Shock 4

Ben-Dutka January 16, 2014 PS4 57 Comments

The battery life of the Dual Shock 4 isn't especially impressive, as many new PS4 owners will tell you.

Perhaps one of the reasons it isn't great is because of the controller's light bar, which may require unnecessary battery power. We say "unnecessary" because not all games make use of the light bar.

As such, many gamers have been wondering if Sony will release an update that will disable the bar for titles that don't need it. Unfortunately, that won't be happening; a fan asked Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida on Twitter if such an update was coming, to which Yoshida simply replied: "No." It's probably a good idea to invest in a charging station, or at the very least, have two controllers so one is always charging while the other is being used. I did that with my PS3 controllers; worked out fine.

Do you have a problem with the lifespan of the new Dual Shock 4?