Console launches are strange days – conjecture and speculation run rampant from dingy basements to crowded bars to the highest halls of media. Opinions are hurled about recklessly by everyone from the most well-informed expert to the most wildly ignorant blowhard – and often, the accuracy of both is roughly comparable. Until a console actually releases into the passionately energetic hands of the consumer, it’s often hard to separate truth from rumor from propaganda.
Here at Pixelated Geek, we know how much you care about your gaming. We also know how much you care about your dollar. So over the next month, we’ll be giving you detailed information on the details of the next-generation of gaming consoles, without any of the nonsense, bias, or personal motivation that you’ll find in a lot of alternative sources.
So, what’s the verdict on the DualShock 4? Read on to find out!
The DualShock 4 was released to the public several days ago by several major retailers, and I have spent the intervening time building detailed impressions of Sony’s new controller – the ergonomics, the design choices, ease of use, etc. It’s important to note that while we’ve done hands-on with the DualShock 4 prior to this, it has been under controlled circumstances at a media event. All impressions are based on a final retail unit paired with two different computers via USB and Bluetooth.
First things first – it is radically different. Sony made some wild departures from the DualShock archetype for the first time in the history of their home gaming console – the DualShock 4 bears many of the marks of the lineage, but with some striking alterations to many of the most iconic features that have left the consumer base either skeptical or bewildered.
Truth be told, the first time you pick up a DualShock 4 you will immediately be struck by how different – and most noticeably, how small – the controller is. While it’s wider than the DualShock 3 by a tad, it’s also considerably shallower, which allows for a broader range of players to find it comfortable. Unfortunately, it also makes it a tad less accessible to gamers with larger hands. For example, I have an 11’ hand-span, and I find that I have to choke down on the grips a bit further than with other controllers, but once I do so, I actually found the DualShock 4 to be more comfortable than its predecessors.
The button layout has remained largely unchanged – Sony’s iconic shape-based face buttons, the locations of the analog sticks and D-pad all survived the generational shift. Trigger and shoulder buttons were shifted into more accessible locations – further towards the back of the controller and easier to access. But of all of the common features, the trigger (R2/L2) buttons are the most drastically altered – canted towards the center of the controller and thankfully far less recessed than any of the previous DualShock controllers.
Perhaps the largest change involves the grips atop the analog sticks – the material is similar to other models, but the geometry has evolved significantly. The analog sticks appear far shorter than their predecessors, but the tension has been altered and the overall feel of the sticks isn’t noticeably altered. The domed shape of the previous DualShock line has bowed out in favor of a ringed disc with a gently-sloped dome in the center of it – please see the picture for further clarification. This allows for a much less precarious grip and much more controllable surface across various angles.
Whether the result of conscious choice or simply a consequence of the inclusion on the new touch-pad and speaker, the vastly-increased distance between analog sticks solves the single greatest issue with the DualShock line: accidental thumb collision. This seems like a minor detail, and it’s certainly a first-world problem but part of the reason that I completely abandoned the PS3 as a console for first-person shooters was that my gigantic man-thumbs would constantly collide, and result in a slew accidental inputs and a cloud of colorful profanity. I am pleased to report that the DualShock 4 – even with a pair of stick extenders mounted, does not cause this same digit fender-bender.
The build quality, materials and construction are excellent – nothing feels cheap or poorly constructed. The major materials of the shell and the buttons feel sturdy and durable. However, it remains to be seen if the matte finish will wear into the slick shininess that so commonly afflicted its predecessors, or if the rubberized material of the thumb sticks will wear into the dull, oily mess that so characterized the DualShock 3s.
The functionality of the controller cannot be fully ascertained before the launch of the system, but I have paired the controller with two separate PCs, via both USB and Bluetooth to do the due diligence. Upon connection, both Windows 7 & 8 recognize the device immediately and installation is automatic. I have heard reliable reports that many of the Mac OS variants also accept the controller without hassle. The more exotic functionalities – the touchpad and headphone jack – will doubtless require a third-party driver in the future for full support, but for the now the device works as advertised with Windows as well as any non-Microsoft product.
*Please note the specificity in the previous sentence – certain PC titles offer support ONLY for the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller for Windows (or third-party analogs that utilize the selfsame driver) – and for these titles a program such as the Xbox 360 Controller emulator or other similar software will produce the desired effect. My testing found the DualShock 4 to be completely compatible with each controller emulator I used.*
I do have an over-arching concern about the controller, and I don’t think I’ll be alone in this: the DualShock 4 uses a micro-USB cable as a charging and/or connection solution. The micro-USB is a common sight these days in the realm of mobile devices and as such it is certainly convenient, widely available and inexpensive but for all that, the micro-USB is a notoriously fragile connector. Off the top of my head I can count six devices in my household that utilize the micro-USB, and I can’t name one of them that’s still using the original cable or charger.I devoutly hope that Sony’s included charging solution will be of particularly heavy duty build quality.
In the event that isn’t the case, I recently obtained an OEM version of Motorola’s micro-USB cable that is widely considered to be the toughest and most reliable of its kind – and it was $3.99.
Unfortunately, until the PlayStation releases November the 15th, we can’t speak practically about many features. The touch pad is of particular interest to me, both its inherent functionality and its application in the UI and in-game. The EXT. jack next to the headphone jack has already been established as an alternate charging port – but there have shadowy hints as to other uses in the future.
In any case, it’s a compelling piece of hardware with a great deal of promise, and a very good step forward for Sony. Thanks for reading, and please remember to check back after release, as we will be updating this column with more details following the release of the system.
UPDATE:
After several hours time with the full experience, I’m very pleased to report that the untested features work marvelously. The touch-pad is very responsive, and the ball is in the developers court to best utilize it. The SIXAXIS function works as well as it always have – though I suspect we won’t see it used very often in this generation either. Sony’s charge cable is rather rinky-dink, and that’s not great news BUT there are several high quality charging docks on the market – the slickest of which is Energizer’s solution. Also, get the camera – it gives the DualShock some great functionality for automatic login and split-screen.