There’s not a lot that can be said about the PlayStation 5 (and PS5 Pro) that hasn’t been said already.
Sony’s current-gen hardware launched in 2020, and while it offered power improvements over the PS4 and that new fancy SSD for faster loading, the DualSense gained a whole host of improvements that the DualShock 4 could only dream of.
Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers have become one of the reasons I play on PlayStation more than anywhere else, and I really hope that we can see that continue with the PlayStation 6.
Feel everything
When Sony introduced the DualSense, I think many of us expected it to be a gimmick. A trigger that feels like a bow string being pulled? Pull the other one (get it?).
Still, it didn’t take long for games to showcase the potential. Demon’s Souls had some great haptic feedback on the PS5’s launch day, and in the years since, we’ve seen excellent implementations across Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Returnal, and Astro Bot.
Third-party titles like GTA 5, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 also make smart use of the tech, and while not every game does, it’s surprising just how much more immersive games can be when you’re pulling the triggers or experiencing the improved haptics.
In fact, I now couldn’t imagine playing these games without them. I played Cyberpunk 2077 primarily on Xbox and PC, and then purchased it a third time for PS5 (I really do love the game). When I go back for my regular replay, it’s the PS5 version I opt for, despite there being no PS5 Pro patch, in no small part due to the way guns feel when fired, or how the bass of a nightclub thrums through the controller.
Party pooper
There are some caveats to the DualSense technology. For one, the battery life is significantly worse than that of the Xbox controller, albeit with rechargeable batteries that can degrade over time. How much of that is town to the impressive rumble technology and trigger tension isn’t clear, but it would be fair to say that it’s unlikely to help.
Anecdotally, I’ve also heard plenty of people say their triggers have snapped in the DualSense. That’s not happened to me, but given the inherent tension required for adaptive triggers, there could be more of a risk there.
Still, with Microsoft having been (at one point) looking to launch its own haptic controller, there’s every chance those kinks can be ironed out and that Sony can take some pointers from them.
It’s also worth giving Microsoft plenty of credit for its Xbox One controllers being compatible with the Series X and S. If Sony makes the DualSense an option for the PlayStation 6, those who have collected every color variant will have plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
Trim the fat
This might be a little controversial, but I really wish the PlayStation 5 DualSense didn’t have a microphone built in. The speaker is a fun addition, although I often turn it down considerably, but the mic makes me anxious that my voice can be heard in open lobbies.
I turn on the PS5 and instantly mute myself as a matter of routine, but if anyone does use the mic, they always sound too distant for it to be an effective way to communicate with your squad.
I wonder if Sony would consider releasing a cheaper, mic-less version of a DualSense for anyone who has a headset – food for thought, perhaps?
Still, the DualSense has become one of my favorite pads of all time, despite usually preferring asymmetrical thumbsticks. If Sony can eke out a little more battery life and keep those fantastic haptics and triggers, the PlayStation 6 could be every bit as immersive as the PS5 – and then some.