As thePS5andXbox Series Xlaunch holiday 2020, the new generation of console gaming brings with it a new generation of console controllers. The PS5’s Dualshock 5 (assuming Sony sticks with the same naming convention) is largely the same, especially to the untrained eye, with the Xbox Series X controller only having slight differences revealed so far.
The major differences between the PS5 controller and its predecessor are largely technical. The insides of thePS5controller are slightly different in regards to vibration function and triggers this time around, with the light bar also being removed. Just like the newXbox Series Xcontroller, there are not too many differences in the transition to next-gen.
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The triggers of thePS5 controller have been redesignedin order to feature a more tensive feel when playing games. Main examples used by PS4 and PS5 system architect Mark Cerny include games where the character uses a bow or gun. Driving cars in games is also meant to push harder on the triggers, while other changes primarily revolve around the space between the control sticks. Sony has also stated that a newer haptic feedback, meant to have more immersive vibrations than controllers before it, will also be part of the PS5 controller. Ohter changes include a new built-in microphone has been implemented with the headset jack along with a USB-C port.
One of the most significant changes for every PlayStation player is the removal of the light bar that was prominent on the Dualshock 4. The light bar is primarily used as a tracking mechanism forPSVRwith a secondary function in providing contextual light pulses during certain games. Though a neat feature, the light bar caused two problems for PS4 consumers. The first problem involved numerous users being annoyed at the reflection the light bar gave off of their TV screens, especially in the dark. It created a fair share of complaints online but seemed to be partially fixed when Sony allowed the light to be dimmed in the settings.
The second and far more significant problem was the battery life of the Dualshock 4 which is still notoriously quite short - a mere four hours in some cases. This shortage in battery can primarily be attributed to the light bar’s need to constantly be on during the PS4’s up-time. Removing this feature for thePS5 controller will, theoretically, greatly improveits battery life. By contrast, the Nintendo Switch Pro controller has many of the same features as the Dualshock 4 except for the light bar, and it runs quite a bit longer.
Some of these changes are reported from patents, including one such patent that shows how aPS5 controller could be shared between three peopledigitally, which sounds slightly strange. It’s worth mentioning then that a patent doesn’t necessitate an actual feature.
Similar to the PS5 controller, the new Xbox controller that was revealed alongside theXbox Series X at The Game Awards 2019also features mostly the same things as its predecessor for Xbox One. The most noticeable difference is the share button that is featured in the center of the controller. Much like the PS4’s share button, this will presumably be used to record, edit, share, and livestream gameplay and screenshots.
The new Xbox controller’s form has also been slightly changed in size though the difference is too subtle to tell without comparing both this and the Xbox One controller side-by-side. The d-pad has also been changed and features one similar to the Elite series of Xbox One controllers. Though these new Xbox controllers are packed in with everynew Xbox Series X console, it will also still be compatible with Xbox One and PC.
Microsoft’s willingness for open compatibility reaches even toPlayStation; Dualshock 4 controllers will be usable for Project xCloud. It is no coincidence that Microsoft seems too unwilling to change the form of its controller and loves it so much that it wants it to be compatible everywhere. The modern Xbox controllers have often been regarded as the best controllers in console gaming history, so Xbox’s approach can be best described as, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”
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