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Sony Debuts New PlayStation 5 'DualSense' Wireless Game Controller

The new PlayStation 5 wireless controller — called the DualSense — was unveiled in images posted on the official PlayStation blog on Tuesday, which expanded on its new capabilities compared to previous video game console controllers, like the DualShock 4.

The new controller is in its final design, and developers are implementing new and unique features into forthcoming games. The DualSense wireless controller for PlayStation 5 will stimulate more senses as players interact with the virtual worlds in PS5 games.

"The new features of DualSense, along with PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, will deliver a new feeling of immersion to players," said the blog.

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When the PS4 came to stores in 2013, the DualShock 4 wireless achieved significant positive feedback from gamers and developers for being the best-yet controller for a PlayStation, especially for its prescient features, like the Share button.

For the next console iteration, PlayStation decided to keep much of the features players loved about the DualShock 4, while also including new functionality and refinement to the earlier design. Discussions with developers revealed that a sense of touch within gameplay, just like audio, wasn't a serious focus for many games. This presented the PS5 with an opportunity to innovate by offering game developers the ability to find new ways of heightening the feeling of immersion via the new controller.

This is why the team included haptic feedback to add a wide-spanning group of sensations like the slow grittiness of driving a car through slush and mud. The PS5 team also included adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons, to simulate tension in actions like drawing and shooting an arrow.

For adaptive triggers, the team had to find a way to incorporate the new components into the controller without making it too bulky. The trick, they say, was in making it feel smaller than it actually is by changing the angle of the hand triggers, and adding subtle updates on the grip.

The strong battery life was also a challenge to maintain without increasing the weight of the DualSense controller. There's no longer a "Share" button because that function is being replaced by a "Create" button feature. The Create function will give players new unprecedented ways to create epic gameplay content and share it with the world on the fly.

The PlayStation 5 DualSense will also include a built-in microphone array that will allow players to chat with friends without using a clunky headset — an ideal setup for jumping into conversations without extra hassle. However, the PS5 team was quick to add that longer conversations are better with a ready headset. We're only at the beginning, so be sure to return here for the latest PlayStation 5 updates.