Its haptics were designed for immersion, being able to simulate a range of different surfaces. weapons, and other effects, while its triggers would adapt to what was in your hands on-screen, making for a controller that feels like it’s a part of the game along with you. The touchpad and speaker made a very welcome return from the PS4, too. However, not all games make use of the DualSense’s immersive capability.

And yet, others do, with some very nice results. If you’re looking to find a few titles that do the DualSense justice, we’ve got a few great ones for you. Let’s get started.

1. Ghost of Yotei

As a PS5 exclusive, Atsu’s revenge-fueled rampage across Ezo was bound to make use of the DualSense in some form. The guiding wind was already mapped to the touchpad, as were a couple of key functions. But having players swipe across the touchpad to navigate their shamisens, or actually move and tilt their controllers to cook over a campfire, were fantastic touches that brought a layer of realism to the open-world and its activities.

Even building a campfire was cleverly implemented here. While we would have liked the haptics and adaptive triggers to really come alive during the game’s combat, they do a decent job overall. This one’s a great choice if you’d like your DualSense to really come along with you for the ride.

2. Astro Bot

Team Asobi’s platformer was so rooted in PlayStation history and put so much into the DualSense that there’s an Astro Bot-themed one all on its own. The haptics made surfaces like sand and metal come alive, the motor’s intensity pulsing ever so differently and giving a distinct feel to each one.

There were even different trigger responses on various power-ups. Suction devices made the triggers actually push against your fingers, simulating a device that was slowly filling up. The boxing gloves made them click satisfactorily in place, making it feel like you were landing punches yourself. We could go on, but you get the idea. This love letter to PlayStation is a logical choice for those of you who want to enjoy everything the DualSense has to offer.

3. Gran Turismo 7

As a racing sim that takes itself quite seriously, it only makes sense, then, that Gran Turismo 7 made use of every tool in its arsenal to improve player experience. If you’re thinking that it’s good news for PS5 players thanks to the DualSense, you already know what to expect.

But it’s hard to describe how each car’s engine brings a subtle, yet obvious shift in the haptic feedback you get, while bumps in the road or changes to your tire’s grip come right back to you as you attempt harder turns. The adaptive triggers do well to shift the weight of your brake pedals between cars, and even simulate ABS-assisted braking. It’s a long list, but definitely worth discovering for its visuals and authentic gameplay alongside its DualSense integration.

4. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

The PS5 version of GSC’s long-awaited addition to the STALKER franchise does interesting things with the DualSense. For starters, the developers have discussed their use of the adaptive triggers at length, highlighting how the weapon enthusiasts on the team ensured that each gun’s heft and distinct features were translated well into the triggers.

All of the game’s radio chatter is routed through the DualSense’s speaker, while the haptics have been trained to simulate a variety of different, varied surfaces across The Zone’s many biomes. In a game that’s as immersive as STALKER 2, the PS5 version is the one to beat, and the DualSense is a major part of that distinction.

5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

As if bringing Peter Parker and Miles Morales together as dual protagonists wasn’t enough, Insomniac decided to make the DualSense feel alive in your hands as you zipped around the city, a ray-traced reflection of Spidey coming back at you to remind you that this one was a next-gen game at the time.

Of course, the DualSense played its part, its haptics simulating the feel of the wind on your web wings, or the adaptive triggers suitably seizing up as Spidey gathered the initial burst of force he needed for his next launch. Personally, the first time trying to glide along on water was among the best ways to feel the controller’s haptics at work. This one’s definitely worth checking out on the whole and as a showcase for the DualSense.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

Another great PS5 exclusive, this one is another great use case for the DualSense’s unique feature set. For starters, the controller’s integration into the gameplay loop is done so subtly, you might barely notice it’s there at the outset. But you’re soon going to be looking for ways to fire up the haptics by your in-game actions, and that’s where the fun begins.

You begin to notice the ever-so-slight vibrations of the blades of long grass you use to remain unseen, or the way a fall from a high place makes the controller tell you quite directly that it was a bad idea. It’s in the way that different strokes in the water as you swim evoke different responses from your controller, even as the triggers make each weapon feel distinctly different. This is one that you have to check out for yourself, and it’s a great game, too.

7. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Hideo Kojima’s 2025 masterpiece needs no introduction, but Sam Porter’s latest adventure does bring some interesting, DualSense-focused touches to the table. It essentially made the controller feel like an extension of Sam and the player, with every texture the character stepped across making the controller come alive just a bit differently in our hands.

The triggers made us feel the weight of his cargo when he handled it, even as every drop of rain from a Timefall occurring around us gave a sense of foreboding, thanks to the DualSense making us uncomfortably aware that time was of the essence. It’s brilliant stuff, and perhaps an indicator of even better things to come for the controller in the near and distant future.

8. The Last of Us Part I

This remake of Naughty Dog’s original 2013 classic did very well to make good use of the Dualsense to elevate an experience that was so familiar it ran the risk of feeling dated. Guns and Ellie’s bow are suitably different in your hands thanks to the triggers, while the haptics add to the tension you feel when you’re navigating the environments that cause it.

They’re also a part of some of the story’s most important moments, bringing a subtle yet fresh touch to those scenes in a way that wasn’t possible at the time of the game’s development. If you’re a fan and would like to experience the original adventure in a fresh new way, the DualSense is going to help with that.

9. Dead Space Remake

Returning to the USG Ishimura with a DualSense in our hands made for an interesting time when we tried this one out. The plasma rifle suddenly felt all the more satisfying to use, the haptic feedback from each shot working well with the visuals of a terrifying enemy being put down in front of you.

Every step with your magnetic boots is sent back to you via the haptics, while the triggers do well to make each weapon feel distinct enough that you might even tell them apart with your eyes closed once you spend enough time with them. If you have the stomach for some scares, give this one a go.

10. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Cloud Strife’s revamped tangle with Shinra in this continuation of the story from Remake came with excellent implementations of the DualSense’s haptics and triggers. They did well to add the usual immersive layers we’ve come to expect to the game’s combat and exploration, but they were also neatly tied into the story and a few minigames, too.

Rebirth is a great example of how the DualSense could be woven into a game’s narrative cutscenes as well, while also being a part of more than just combat and a way to simulate the texture of the ground under a player’s feet. This one’s a no-brainer on the controller front, and you’re likely going to enjoy it on its own merits as well.

11. Alan Wake 2

This one’s probably our favorite one of the lot. There’s a case to be made for combining a controller like the DualSense and a game that’s as atmospheric as this one. While the visuals could take a while to praise considering how great they look on a PS5, having the DualSense add-on to that immersion is a great way to enjoy an experience that’s already among the finest ones you can find.

From the way the rain patters down around you while the controller gently vibrates to make you feel like a few drops caught you instead, to how a shotgun and crossbow feel castly different thanks to the triggers working very well to make that so, this is a game you’re going to find excuses to replay once you finish it for the first time.

12. Black Myth Wukong

You’re going to appreciate the DualSense’s role in this one right off the bat. Fighting the several bosses throughout the game brings the controller alive, with each blow you fend off, making it rumble in your hands. But Wukong also weaves in other subtle touches to its gameplay loop that make it worthwhile to play on a PS5 (or a PC with a DualSense if that’s your thing).

From resistance to your staff to the build-up of spells, the adaptive triggers are always looking for ways to differentiate your gear, while the haptics do a great job of simulating different occurrences and, of course, making combat come to life. Tracing the steps of the protagonist is certainly a task worthy of the DualSense.

13. Deathloop

Deathloop is a solid example of the DualSense being used effectively across the board in a video game. The haptics are woven into your exploration loop, effectively making each surface you walk across feel as it should in the real world, while the triggers differentiate your weapons very well indeed.

But integrating the haptics into cutscenes made for an experience that was all the more engaging as a result, adding weight to the moments where the developers wanted it. Take the DualSense along to Blackreef, and you’re not going to be disappointed.

14. Stray

We can’t help but feel like this one was made for the DualSense and not the other way around. The controller feels like such an important part of this surreal adventure, coming alive with every purr your feline protagonist makes. The triggers make you appreciate why cats like to scratch things so much.

Our favorite use of the controller was at resting points, where watching your kitty cat take a well-served nap comes with the bonus of having the controller mimic its breathing in a way that’s as satisfying as it is adorable. This is one of the more innovative uses of the DualSense on our list, and perhaps a very innovative experience on its own.

15. Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian did well to translate its UI over from a keyboard and mouse to a controller, its radial menus offering players a lot of options as they navigated the many mysteries and adventures of Faerun in this very memorable take on Dungeons & Dragons.

The triggers did well to bring that shift to life, with varying amounts of pressure controlling the behavior of radial menus in the game. The light bar on the DualSense switches colors depending on the spell you’re casting, while the haptics rumble away at the appropriate times to make things interesting. It’s surely worth a shot, especially with official modding support from Larian for the PS5 thrown into the mix.

And that’s a wrap on games that are best enjoyed on the PS5, thanks to how the DualSense makes them even better. Here’s to many more on the horizon.

There are some notable changes in model number CFI-ZCT2W, aka the DualSense V3, including the removal of the rear microphone. The battery remains the same size but with a different part number and connector. Other parts, including the motors, vary, but the overall functionality and performance are the same.

As for the PS5 Pro, it has seen a slight weight loss, which is good news considering its previous heft, and this doesn’t come at the cost of the SSD size, like the PS5 Slim.

The PS5 Pro currently retails for $749.99 following a price increase in the United States. Sony is also allegedly working on the PS6 with a planned release date in 2027, so stay tuned for more updates on that front in the coming months.

With only 12,300 produced, it’s a significantly bigger deal than the rest of the collection. As expected, it’s sold out, with scalpers reselling their pre-orders for several times more in Europe and the UK via eBay, that too successfully.

Aside from the PS5 Pro bundle, there are 30th Anniversary versions of the PS5 Digital Edition for $499.99, followed by the PlayStation Portal and DualSense Edge at $219.99 each. The regular DualSense is the cheapest at $79.99. And yes, they’re also sold out.

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection launches on November 21st. Meanwhile, the regular PS5 Pro, which retails for $699.99, launches on November 7th. Check out how developers on titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and more are leveraging it to improve their visuals.

The PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle includes the console, a DualSense and DualSense Edge, and the DualSense Charging Station. It even has a console cover for the disc drive (still sold separately, unfortunately). Fortunately, it has a Vertical Stand and some collector’s items, including cable ties based on the PlayStation Shapes.

The PS5 Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle includes the same items and Vertical Stand, albeit with only one DualSense and a console cover. You can also pick up 30th Anniversary Limited Edition versions of the PlayStation Portal, DualSense and DualSense Edge.

Of course, quantities are limited – the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary bundle will only have 12,300 units, each etched with numbers indicating the date of the PS One’s launch. Pre-orders for the bundle alongside the PlayStation Portal and DualSense Edge (standalone) begin on September 26th via PlayStation Direct and retailers.

The same applies to the PS5 Digital Edition bundle from PlayStation Direct, though pre-orders at retailers start on October 10th. Finally, the DualSense Wireless (standalone) is only available to pre-order from retailers on September 26th.

Meanwhile, the “regular” PS5 Pro launches on November 7th, retailing for $699.99. Head here for everything you should know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amdZnHooTkk

It doesn’t seem to offer any other unique features or differ in price, though the height, width and depth are all noticeably less than the regular DualSense. The DualSense V2 is also a good 80 grams lighter, which should help for longer sessions. The listing could be erroneous, but given the different model numbers, it may be a light refresh and nothing more.

Sony has yet to confirm the existence of a new DualSense, so stay tuned for potential announcements in the coming months. The company recently celebrated over 50 million lifetime sales of the PlayStation 5. It’s expected to sell 25 million units this fiscal year, ending March 31st, 2024.

https://twitter.com/nextgenplayer/status/1745282982267466019

The questionnaire presented to studios and publishers about controller support will affect the game’s Steam store page, allowing companies to pick between “Full Controller Support” or “Partial Controller Support”. There is also an option for special cases for games that might only work with a specific control scheme.

Valve points out that support for DualShock and DualSense controllers isn’t assumed by Steam automatically if there is support for the Xbox controller. The company states that developers will have to do specific work with their games to ensure support for PlayStation controllers.

Players will start seeing new display and filters in October that will allow players to pick games that support the controller that they have available to them. valve mentions that the update is to help the over 87 million players on Steam using at least one controller, according to recent Steam Hardware Surveys.

For studios that might have trouble developing bespoke support for PlayStation controllers, Valve also mentions that Steamworks provides streamlined APIs to help provide a game with PlayStation controller support as long as there is support for Xbox controllers.

Speaking to GamesIndustry, Shawne Benson, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s third-party portfolio and acquisitions, discussed the company’s strategy for exclusives.

“There’s room for exclusives where it makes sense, obviously, but the focus – especially with a digital distribution model that is more prevalent than in generations past – is that there are different types of gameplay out there. For example, a free-to-play game’s business model is most successful when it’s on as many platforms as possible and brings the biggest audience possible.”

Interestingly, the company isn’t concerned so much about exclusivity as highlighting the PS5’s features. “So that’s thinking about it less around exclusivity than what kind of technologies could they adopt that really make PS5 sing. What kind of innovation can they apply with the haptics in the DualSense or the adaptive triggers?

“What could they do with 3D audio in the sound design of a game, etc? So there’s a lot of things we could do and then create marketing stories around, and that’s where some of these partnerships for multiplatform games really focus.”

Though Sony isn’t explicitly paying developers to implement DualSense, if it’s a “good PlayStation story,” then it may partner with them for marketing and support. Such deals aren’t exactly uncommon in today’s industry. Despite The Callisto Protocol being a multi-platform title, it had PlayStation-exclusive bonuses and DualSense support, while PlayStation Studios Visual Arts lent its motion capture studio.

Given Xbox’s numerous acquisitions, it remains to be seen if Sony can retain its third-party exclusivity momentum in the coming years. Stay tuned in the meantime.

In a statement to The Verge, Sony confirmed that due the DualSense Edge having “many more features within the same form factor and ergonomic design as the original DualSense controller”, it will have a “moderately shorter” battery life than the latter.

“The DualSense Edge wireless controller’s operating time is moderately shorter than the original DualSense wireless controller because we’ve included many more features within the same form factor and ergonomic design as the original DualSense controller,” the company said. “We wanted to strike a good balance between wireless operating time and delivering robust, high-performance features. Additionally, the longer USB braided cable is also great for competitive players who prefer playing with a wired connection to avoid wireless interference – this option preserves battery life.”

Of course, “moderately shorter” is a pretty vague term, so questions will still be asked about what one can expect from the DualSense Edge’s battery exactly. The base DualSense’s battery life isn’t exactly the best, lasting on average about 7-8 eight hours per charge (though it can occasionally last up to 12 hours), so expect a pretty short battery life for the Edge.

Given the fact that the controller will be priced at $199.99, that might not be to everyone’s liking.

This includes the console’s solid-state drive, with “superfast data streaming” ensuring that players won’t experience any loading screens. Silent Hill can be explored seamlessly as a result. The PS5’s 3D audio is also supported, which should help indicate “the exact direction” of sounds, and WWise sound engine creates “a realistic and believable soundscape that helps players feel like they are truly inside the game.”

The DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are also being utilized, though Bloober Team’s Mateusz Lenart didn’t outline how. There will be some “new ideas,” but the team is keeping it a surprise for now.

Silent Hill 2 doesn’t have a release date yet (with Lenart confirming that development isn’t over yet), but it’s coming to PS5 as a 12-month console exclusive and PC. Check out its screenshots and PC requirements here.

For instance, as per a new patent (via coindipender), Sony is trying to give its user the option to adjust the height of the control stick, the main goal being that the c-stick is not sticking out in one place permanently. As per the filings, the abstract reads as follows:

“A controller, thumbstick, or system comprising a thumbstick body, a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft is freely rotatable together around a pivot center within the controller body.”

The internal filing date for the patent seems to point out that Sony filed it last year on 22 July, and the same got published on 13 January 2022.

The filing indicates that Sony might be working on a new controller, though patents aren’t necessarily always indicative of concrete plans of course. PlayStation’s DualSense controllers are already feature-rich, coming with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, among other features, so having something like this would add to an already pleasant controller experience.

In more Sony patent-related news, the company recently filed one for their upcoming PSVR2, which allows the headset to scan real-world objects into a game, along with one filed by the PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny for backward compatibility.