When the PlayStation 5 first launched on November 12, 2020, one of the biggest points of discussion was the new controller – the DualSense Wireless Controller. Everything from the texturing to the highly nuanced haptic feedback (the way it rumbles, shakes and creates resistance in the joysticks) really felt like an extension of the gaming experience. Now Sony is looking to one-up themselves for PS5 gamers, today announcing the DualSense Edge wireless controller which is being fashioned as the first-ever high-performance, ultra-customisable controller of its kind.
On average, most gamers wouldn’t be too bothered with forking out extra for customisable control. That kind of stuff is often the domain of hardcore players who value having complete control over the aesthetic of their set-up. The DualSense Edge, however, is a bit of a different beast. Much like the Xbox Elite controller – the second iteration of which offers up to 30 different configurations – the DualSense Edge can be tweaked on both a hardware and software level with numerous options that have a real effect on a gamer’s experience.
What you’ll want out of the controller completely depends on your play style. Do you want faster inputs for competitive first-person shooters like Call of Duty? The software can be customised to reduce travel distance between input and action by adjusting the trigger hair locks at the rear. Veer towards racing games? You can reduce the dead zone for precise throttle control. In the past, this level of customisation would be exclusive to PC gamers, so Sony finally paying attention to bespoke gaming is a big deal.
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Players can remap or deactivate specific button inputs, adjust stick sensitivity, and as mentioned above tweak both travel distance and dead zones. There’s also the ability to save multiple control profiles so gamers can easily swap between configurations during play without needing to go through specific menus.
In addition, you’ve got removable analog thumbsticks and rear buttons, as well as changeable stick caps with an option between standard, high dome and low dome. Most of these features are available with the Xbox Elite controller too, but Sony is going so far as to even let you replace stick modules which is something Microsoft is yet to do for its current-generation console.
Sony seems to be making the customisation process much more seamless for gamers. The PS5 will now have an added on-controller interface with one function button dedicated to switching between profiles, accessing profile settings, adjusting volume and chat balance, and tweaking other aspects of the DualSense Edge wireless controller in-game.
The DualSense Edge comes with a braided USB-C cable that’ll apparently include a connecter housing that locks into the controller more securely, avoiding the annoying disconnect that can happen if you’re wired up and getting a bit spicy during that CoD sesh.
“The opportunity to create the DualSense Edge wireless controller was a dream come true for our team,” said Hideaki Nishino, senior vice president of PlayStation platform experience.
“We wanted to build on the legacy of the iconic PlayStation controllers by creating a controller that empowers players to experiment and personalise elements based on their own unique playstyle – whether they are a competitive gamer or someone who just enjoys having more options to customise their play.”
There is currently no confirmed release date for the PS5 DualSense Edge controller but once more details are confirmed we’ll be updating this article.
