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Here’s your first look at the PS5 controller, DualSense

Sony has revealed details and images of the PlayStation 5 wireless controller. It’s called DualSense and is charged via USB-C.

One of the headline features of the DualSense is haptic feedback - an advanced rumble technology that simulates what’s happening on-screen via vibrations in your hands.

“We had a great opportunity with PS5 to innovate by offering game creators the ability to explore how they can heighten that feeling of immersion through our new controller,” says the official blog post. “This is why we adopted haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud.”

On top of that, there’s adaptive triggers. These allow developers to play with tension to simulate other in-game activities. The example given is squeezing the trigger to simulate drawing the string on a bow.

Sony has also replaced the Share button with a button called ‘Create’, and it will, well, share more details about that at a later date. Presumably you’ll be able to jump straight into advanced video editing from raw gameplay clips, or something along those lines.

Elsewhere, there’s a built-in microphone so you can chat with friends even without a headset.

Sony says it’s incorporated these additions without sacrificing design. The pad apparently won’t weigh you down and it will hold its charge for those lengthy gaming sessions.

Here’s a look at the PS5 controller:

“Now, let’s talk about the colors,” the Sony blog post explains about the design. “Traditionally our base controllers have a single color. As you can see, we went a different direction this time around, and decided on a two-toned design. Additionally, we changed the position of the light bar that will give it an extra pop. On DualShock 4, it sat on the top of the controller; now it sits at each side of the touch pad, giving it a slightly larger look and feel.

“In all, we went through several concepts and hundreds of mockups over the last few years before we settled on this final design. DualSense has been tested by a wide range of gamers with a variety of hand sizes, in order for us to achieve the comfort level we wanted, with great ergonomics. Our goal with DualSense is to give gamers the feeling of being transported into the game world as soon as they open the box. We want gamers to feel like the controller is an extension of themselves when they’re playing – so much so that they forget that it’s even in their hands!”

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Kirk McKeand avatar

Kirk McKeand

Former Deputy Editor

Kirk is an award-winning writer from the UK's Lincoln, and has written for the likes of IGN, Vice, Eurogamer, Edge, Playboy, and several other magazines, newspapers, and websites. For several years, Kirk also acted as the editor of VG247.
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