PS4 CONTROLLER: ANALYSIS

PS4 CONTROLLER: ANALYSIS


 The DualShock 4 is the single greatest overhaul the PlayStation control pad has ever had. We’ll talk you through it – and there’s a lot to discuss...



 ■  THE NEW ANALOGUE STICKS 

The analogue sticks have been tweaked, with slight concave wells for resting thumbs on – the opposite of the current model’s outwardly curved shape. It’s a small change, but one which should make for easier, more comfortable control.


 ■  HEADPHONE JACK 

 The pad takes inspiration from the Xbox 360 and  puts a listen hole on the bottom – the difference is this is a headphone jack,  meaning game audio could be put through headphones just by popping them into the controller by 3.5mm jack (as well as headsets for chat, we assume). 

 ■  THE OPTIONS BUTTON 

Start and Select are dead, replaced with an ‘options’ button which we expect will serve the purpose of both inputs. Does anyone need separate Start and Select buttons any more? No.

 ■  THE BLUE LIGHT & THE CAMERA 

 The glowing blue area on the back  of the controller allows the pad to be  picked up by the PS4’s new dual-lens camera, enabling it to act like a Move controller while it’s used as a standard pad – potentially the perfect blend of buttons and motion. 010  |   

 ■  THE SPEAKER 

A built-in controller speaker reminds of Wii and could make games more engrossing, with characters talking to you via the pad – or it could push game chat to the pad, separating cross-game conversation from the TV’s audio stream. 


 ■  THE NEW TRIGGERS 

 Complaints about the PS3 triggers have been addressed. All the shoulder buttons have been refi ned, with the L2 and R2 triggers looking especially upgraded to be more like the 360 pad.


 ■  THE TOUCHPAD

 The touchable square on the front of the DualShock 4 is integral to the new pad’s innovation. Allowing for Vita-style touch gestures in-game, the pad will make possible fi nger-solvable puzzles and swipe gestures and generally blend button inputs with handheld innovation.

 ■  RUBBERISED GRIPS & LARGER SIZE 

The lower half and back of the controller looks to be coated in a rubberised material which will make the pad more comfortable to hold and easier to grip, especially for long periods and interacting with the camera or touchpad.

 ■  THE NEW D-PAD 

The D-pad has finally had a refresh, slightly more recessed in the centre and promising greater responsiveness, while maintaining its traditional positioning.

 ■  THE SHARE BUTTON 

The much-vaunted share button will tie every controller straight into the PS4’s core social focus. Allowing video to be instantly captured and uploaded, sharing game experiences will become second nature, literally at the touch of a button.