Much has been said about Sony’s deal to work with Nintendo and develop a CD-ROM add-on for the SNES. This would spiral into a standalone console known as the PlayStation and the creation of the PlayStation Controller. While taking inspiration from the SNES controller, Sony’s creation would have several key differences – the use of shapes to denote its action buttons, two sets of shoulder buttons and grips to make it easier to handle the expanded button setup.

Sony’s use of shapes wasn’t a haphazard decision. Along with becoming a key part of the PlayStation’s marketing, they denoted different actions like Triangle for PoV, Circle for confirming options and Cross or X for canceling, and Square for menus. In retrospect, it’s funny how the Circle is used to cancel choices while Triangle is used to access menus in many games today.

Overall, the PlayStation Controller was a good effort and launched with the PlayStation One in 1994. Better things were coming though. At the PlayStation Expo 96-97, Sony showcased the predecessor to the future – the Dual Analog Controller. Similar to the PlayStation Controller in almost every way, it carried two analog sticks and three operating modes. The first, Digital Mode, allowed for using the controller’s directional buttons and disabling the sticks. The second was Analog which enabled the sticks while the third, Analog Flightstick, was based off of Sony’s short-lived PlayStation Analog Joystick.

Complaints began to mount over the long grips and lack of Rumble for Dual Analog Controllers in the West. At the time, it was thought that Sony was keeping manufacturing prices down. The company also cited rumble as being one cause of controller issues, hence the exclusion. Behind the scenes though, the war over rumble copyright infringement was taking shape. For the time being, the PlayStation Analog Controller launched in April 1997 and was subsequently discontinued in 1998.

Thankfully, Sony would have a replacement ready by November 1997 – the DualShock, the de facto controller of choice going forward.

Boasting dual analog sticks, each with a vibration motor, the DualShock also felt more comfortable thanks to the rubber texturing on the analog sticks. It wouldn’t take long before the sticks were adapted by a number of different companies. There were even releases like Ape Escape which mandated playing with both analog sticks as opposed to either the D-Pad or face buttons.

With the PlayStation already seeing exceptional success, the DualShock cemented itself as one of the best controllers at the time. The design would see very minimal changes when the PS One, Sony’s smaller redesign of the console, released but it was still very much the same controller.

To no one’s surprise, Sony didn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken as it transitioned into the next generation. The DualShock 2 released with the PlayStation 2 in 2000 and stuck with the same button layout, two analog sticks (which feel somewhat stiffer than its predecessor’s but still), two shoulder buttons and so on. A few key differences were included though, like analog support for the buttons and D-Pad, with the added sensitivity factoring into some PS4 titles, and less weight than the original DualShock.

Riding the wave of the PlayStation 2’s success, the DualShock 2 was a worthy follow-up and stood out in an era of over-sized Xbox controllers and unorthodox Nintendo controllers. The DualShock 3 was mean to continue this line-up of controllers and was seemingly poised to launch with the PS3 in time for the seventh generation of consoles.

Of course, that’s not what we got. Instead, Sony unveiled something altogether different – a boomerang-shaped controller. This debuted at E3 2005 and was routinely ridiculed for its long handles and odd shape (which the company clarified to just be a concept rather than the final design). Unfortunately, the company then unveiled the actual controller for the PS3 – the Sixaxis. “Hold up,” you might ask. “How do you go from the DualShock 1 and 2 for the PS1 and PS2 respectively to this new Sixaxis controller for the PS3?”

The lack of the trademark DualShock brand wasn’t the only problem. Instead of vibration aka rumble, the Sixaxis employed motion sensing technology. Players could tilt the controller across the X, Y and Z axes in different ways, providing six degrees of freedom. Interestingly, the Sixaxis had some other new features including the introduction of the PS Button to replace the Analog button; the use of both analog and digital signals; changing the L2 and R2 buttons to act more like squishy triggers; and more.

However, the motion sensing controls were received negatively, mostly because of the timing of the announcement. It was revealed several months after Nintendo’s Wii reveal which had a Wii-mote for motion-sensing and came across as an imitation. And despite being the major selling point of the Sixaxis, there wasn’t many games that were confirmed to support motion controllers before launch.

We did inevitably see the likes of Warhawk and Lair, the latter infamous for reportedly suffering in order to support motion-sensing controls. The jury is still out today as to how stringently Sony mandated Sixaxis support for its games but it did crop up in major releases like Heavy Rain and Killzone 2 over the years.

Sony did provide reasons for introducing motion-sensing tech and removing rumble but the real answer lay in that ongoing lawsuit with Immersion. The latter took umbrage with companies infringing on its copyrights for haptic technology. Though Microsoft chose to settle – and even purchased a 10 percent stake in the company – Sony failed to come to terms with Immersion before the PS3’s launch. As a result, the DualShock 3 was sidelined in favor of the Sixaxis.

Thankfully, this didn’t last long. The DualShock 3 would be revealed in 2007 and released worldwide in 2008, with rumble making its return. In terms of design and other features though, both controllers were identical – the DualShock 3 even had motion sensing tech. By April 2008, the Sixaxis was discontinued completely and the DualShock 3 was the default PS3 controller going forward.

2013 signaled the arrival of the next-generation of consoles. Microsoft was busy revamping the Xbox One into an all-in-one entertainment solution with its controller being changed to reflect as much. Sony’s DualShock 4 was introducing some major changes of its own, including one that would serve as a minor revelation of sorts.

Revealed in February 2013, the DualShock 4 was very much similar to its predecessor in terms of button layouts, analog sticks, triggers and the implementation of motion-sensing. In terms of feel, the analog sticks sported outer rings for easier gripping and the digital pad’s buttions were more concave-shaped with the center being recessed. Sony spent an exceptional amount of time tuning the latter to make the controller feel better for fighting games.

However, a large touchpad now adorned the front where the “Sony” logo used to be. The Options button combined the functions of the Start and Select buttons into one. A mono speaker was visible just below the touchpad and would relay sounds based on the game, even being capable of playing game audio. And at the top of the controller was a light bar which could change under different circumstances (and would be useful for another Sony invention down the line, namely PlayStation VR). Its default color was blue but it could change – if a second player joined on the same console, their light bar would turn red to distinguish, for example.

There was also the Share button which allowed players to capture screenshots and videos from gameplay. Though the Xbox One could also capture gameplay footage and screenshots, the Share button was more seamless and significantly more streamlined, especially when sharing to social media. It’s probably no coincidence then that the upcoming Xbox Series X controller now boasts its own dedicated Share button.

Despite some issues with the left analog stick’s surface, the DualShock 4 has been a success much like the PS4. The light bar, initially met with some skepticism, felt unobtrusive enough while also having some actual use, though Sony would issue a patch that allowed for disabling it altogether. The second generation of the DualShock 4, released in September 2016, featured slight improvements like better battery life and the light bar being visible from the top of the touch pad.

All these years later, we now have the DualSense coming up for the PlayStation 5, sporting a bold two-toned color design. The light bar has moved from the top to the edges of the touchpad; a new microphone array, sporting noise-cancellation, allows for chatting without a headset; a USB-C connector is now used for plugging and charging the controller; and the Share button has been replaced with the Create button. Sony has yet to share finer details on the controller’s functions but it did confirm strong battery life and a relatively light frame.

Perhaps the defining features of the DualSense are its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback which can simulate different kinds of pressure – the most common example provided is drawing an arrow with a bow. Expect more information on other ways this will be implemented along with how the Create button works in the coming months.

It’s crazy to look back and realize that the PlayStation brand has been around for almost three decades. It feels like almost yesterday when we marveled at the possibilities of two analog sticks on the original DualShock or questioned the horror that was the Sixaxis. Even as the DualSense is met with some skepticism and its fair share of memes, we can’t wait to see how this iteration will define the PlayStation 5 experience in the years to come.

Reports from Microsoft indicate that the Xbox One’s built in Kinect sensor can serve as a biometric sensor, with a camera so finely attuned that it can pick up on things such as respiratory rates and heartbeat in humans. If this is true, it could very well revolutionize the way we game.

Biometrics have recently become a huge interest in the gaming industry – a controller or system that can somehow gauge player interest and adapt game play accordingly is no laughing matter. Sony initially tried to incorporate such a system into their Dualshock 4 controller, but ultimately discarded the idea.

Gaming heartthrob Gabe Newell of Valve has hinted that the controllers for the upcoming Steam Box console will utilize biometric data for a smoother, more complete gaming experience.

However, Microsoft doesn’t need biometrics in their controllers, and say doing so would only drain battery life. Xbox Accessories GM, Zulfi Alam had this to say”

“We already have the ability to know what your emotion and heart-rate is, and that’s through the Kinect camera. Adding biometric sensors would drain battery life, and we’ve already got it via Kinect, so why do it?”

Earlier this year, Microsoft released a statement briefly detailing the power of the Kinect camera:

“The completely redesigned, revolutionary 1080p Kinect is more precise, more responsive and more intuitive. It dramatically expands its field of view and fidelity. It works in nearly any lighting condition, recognizes precise motion control from a slight wrist rotation, and distinguishes your voice even in a noisy room using advanced noise isolation.”

As of now there is no comment on how biometrics will be incorporated into the games themselves, only confirmation that the tech is there. This is an exciting and perpetually revolutionary time for the gaming industry; we are all excited to see what comes of it.

Via: CVG

Sony’s upcoming Dualshock 4 controller looks like a breath of fresh air for the Dualshock series of controllers. It has been gaining a lot of praise and attention in the mainstream press, and among the development community, for its unique button placement, and its innovative new features. Now, a new ‘feature’ has come to light, which is a little bit annoying.

Apparently, the light bar on the controller cannot be turned off. It is, if you remember, used to identify players in local multiplayer games, and it is also used in conjunction with the PS Eye Toy. However, it cannot be turned off while playing single player games either (although a developer might potentially choose to disable it by not sending any output via it), which means it will be a needless distraction and a potential drain on battery in those times.

Again, this is a minor annoyance at best, and one that Sony can fix in the coming months. I just wish it didn’t exist in the first place.

Source: Shuhei Yoshida’s Twitter Profile.

The DualShock 4 features quite a lot of new features, which we’ll get to in a bit. For starters though, how does it match up to previous PlayStation DualShocks in terms of looks and design? Check out our comparison gallery below to find out.

Sony carries forth the same design aesthetic from previous generations, though the back of the device and its curves reminds us of the Xbox 360 controller.

In the first four pictures, you can see how the design compares to the originals. While the very first PlayStation DualShock didn’t even feature the twin analog sticks, the DualShock 2 introduced the same (but not before a modified version of the DualShock did it first, bringing much acclaim for its innovation and response).

The DualShock 3 introduced the majority of changes, most notably with the SixAxis button, the Home button and the revamped L2 and R2 buttons. Compared to the DualShock 3, the DualShock 4 – as seen in the last two pictures – has remoulded its L2/R2 buttons to be like proper triggers. We can’t wait to test the response, given how uncomfortable and awkward the DualShock 3’s triggers felt.

Speaking on the analog sticks, Sony has gone with a compressed head compared to the bulky heads of previous DualShocks. This slight compression can also been in the directional pad, which is also missing its slightly recessed look along with the face buttons. The result is a more clean appearance, but one that also draws more attention to the touchscreen and the two subsequently new buttons “Home” and “Options”.

The new Light Bar, seen on the top of the DualShock 4, provides a different take on the player designation notches seen on top of the DualShock 3. Now, it will assign different colours for each player so everyone knows their character at all times. It will also change colours depending on a character’s in-game status, such as if a character is low on health.

We’re very interested to see how the new touchscreen will work out. We hope it’s not just Sony trying to one-up the Wii U Gamepad – and if it’s meant to access the XMB interface without leaving the game, we’ll remain sceptical. Why incorporate more expensive tech to make up for a simple press of the Home button, even if it goes against staying constantly connected to the game?

This is one of those for-or-against things. Once the pricing is announced and functionality fully revealed, we’ll deliver our final verdict on whether the touchscreen is a good or bad idea in retrospect.

Finally, we come to the SixAxis control. We’ll be honest: We personally detest SixAxis functionality. Unless developers have found a way – 6+ friggin’ years later – to successfully incorporate it into gameplay, we’re not interested.

Now it’s your turn to sound off. What do you like most about the new DualShock 4? Which feature are you most excited about?

In a new rumour, Kotaku claims that the Playstation 4, still going by the codename Orbis, will be out this November in the United States. And it seems you’ll be able to access it remotely with your smartphone or tablet to chat with friends or purchase games.

Each machine will also apparently feature a Playstation Eye and finally cave in to Xbox Live Gold’s subscription model. Sony’s will be dubbed “Playstation World”, succeed Playstation Plus, and require a subscription for the use of most of its features.

How the “Playstation Cloud” services fit in – not to mention talks of the revamped Dualshock or EyePad tablet controller – is anyone’s guess, but all the rumours will finally be laid to rest tonight.

Image copyright of AFP/Getty Images

But no, this is real according to France24. Named the “Sham II”, the “tank” has an old diesel car’s chassis with five cameras mounted on the outside and a machine gun on a turning turret. On the inside are several flat screen displays mounted on opposite ends, with the driver sitting on, controlling the tank with a steering wheel while a gunner is at the opposite end, aiming said machine gun with a Playstation controller. One wonders if they get force feedback as well.

Honestly, this isn’t too big a stretch of the imagination. Remember when Playstation 2 consoles were suspected of being powerful enough for missile launches?

Source: Yahoo

The patent calls the controller a “hybrid separable motion controller.”

The patent mentions some other features that the controller has, such as gyroscopes, a speaker, a magnetometer, accelerometers, vibration feedback and a touch pad. Not to mention all the regular buttons. It also looks like the controller needs a camera to detect it, and the game that is running knows whether or not the controller is split in two and then ask the user to adjust the setup accordingly.

The patent also shows a Cell/RSX configuration on one slide.

It looks like Sony might be planning to make this the main controller for the PS4, because it would be a little foolish to introduce another controller for the PS3 at this point in the generation, and it already has the PS Move, the Sixaxis and the Dualshock 3 to run on right now.

With Nintendo innovating with the Wii U’s GamePad, and Microsoft also clearly planning something for the Kinect in the future with the next Xbox, Sony must be thinking about a new way to play games too. They did conceive the PS Move with a long term plan, and using it in such a way for the PS4 would make a lot of sense. This does provide a lot of room for innovation, and to us, it looks like a pretty neat idea.

But then again, it’s just a patent right now, and we never know if it’ll even come into use. Let’s hope for the best.

What do you guys think about this? Tell us in you comments.

Have a look at other images from the patent to get a better idea of the controller below (click to view full size):

[Patent PDF]