Hi everyone! It’s a special day at PlayStation, and I hope all of you had a chance to watch the livestream of PlayStation Meeting 2013 in New York, where we just unveiled PlayStation 4.
One of the most exciting components of our next-generation platform is DualShock 4, the new wireless controller that combines with PlayStation 4 to deliver new gameplay experiences that have never been possible before.
I’d like to give you a tour of DualShock 4 and the features that will provide game developers the freedom to create brand new experiences that previously were limited to their imaginations.
Design
DualShock 4 adopts the familiar form factor of the DualShock 3 wireless controller with some key enhancements:
- Motion control is enabled by a new highly sensitive six-axis sensor
- Dual analog sticks fine-tuned for better precision plus improved surface materials and shape for more delicate manipulation
- L2/R2 buttons on the top of the controller employ a curved design for easier, smoother interaction
- A new “Options” button combines the functions of the DualShock 3′s “Select” and “Start” buttons for operating in-game menus
New ways to play, share and connect
In addition to these features that build on the controls that you already know, DualShock 4 offers new features that enable new ways to play, a key part of the PlayStation 4 experience. One of the biggest innovations we’ve designed centres on the deep social interactions that will surround all games on PlayStation 4.
The “Share” button allows you to easily broadcast your gameplay in real-time through streaming sites such as Ustream, where fellow gamers can comment and even join your game in new ways. For example, if you’re stuck in a difficult level, your friends can offer health potions or special weapons that you can use during gameplay. You can also instantly upload images or video to Facebook by pressing the “Share” button.
As both a developer and a gamer, I’m personally excited about the opportunity to get help from friends when facing a challenge, and I can’t wait to see what my friends are playing in real time along with videos of their favourite in-game moments.
On the front side of DualShock 4 is a light bar with LED that illuminate in various colours to match the colour of the character in a game as a simple way to identify players. The colours can also provide useful information to players, such as when their character has taken damage during a game.
DualShock 4 was developed alongside a second peripheral, a dual camera, which can sense the depth of the environment in front of it and also track the 3D location of the controller via its light bar. The new camera incorporates four microphones capable of accurate sound detection and source origination, and it will support the PlayStation Move motion controller with more precision than ever before.
DualShock 4 also has a touchpad at the front of the controller as a new input method, offering more ways to interact with games. Additionally there’s a built-in speaker and headset jack to deliver high-fidelity sound effects from the games. A headset will be bundled with PlayStation 4, enabling gamers to chat with friends during online gaming and to hear sound effects from the controller.
There’s a lot built into DualShock 4, and the features were all thoughtfully designed with input from the development community (both our internal studios and third parties) and PlayStation gamers. Our goal was to give game creators an open canvas to express their ideas, and DualShock 4 combined with PlayStation 4 will help us achieve the future of gaming that we at PlayStation see ahead of us.
What do you think? What’s your favorite new feature for DualShock 4?
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73 CommentsAdd Yours
51
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 2:24 pm by Mikal-WAFFLES
I thought Sony was going to announce the PS6, because it would be so powerful it would skip over 4 and 5.
52
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 3:15 pm by Tsubaki_14
Am I the only one worried about battery life?
53
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 3:21 pm by psychox2008
Looks like everything have to be multiplayer crap and co-op and instantly share now.
games keep get ruined with unneeded multiplayer.
Ther must be more people then me that enjoy games cus can dive into a story/world in singleplayer.
54
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 4:34 pm by Pure_Mind_Games
“No. I’ve spent the last decade with the same controller, I don’t want to change now. What a hideous controller, why would I want a touch pad on my controller…purely so devs can throw gimmicky segments into their games.”
Gimmicks are just new ideas that aren’t mainstream yet, Rumble was a gimmick, digital download was a gimmick, multiplayer was a gimmick, everything we enjoy started out life as a gimmick.
55
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 4:38 pm by Pure_Mind_Games
@psychox2008
I agree, I couldn’t care less about Co-Op or Multiplayer, and it angers me when Single player suffers because focus was on Multiplayer, either do both correctly or leave it out.
56
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 4:56 pm by Alaann
that controller looks horrible it looks like the xbox controller.will the dualshock 3 work on ps4 and what is happening with my ps3 digital games will they work on ps4
57
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 5:10 pm by ollie_uk_2008
Haven’t shown us the touch pad in action yet.
what would be good if the PS button light up like the prototype of ps3.
could have it light up different colours .
58
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 7:09 pm by Flare_51
I think the grips are too fat and I’m not that keen on the analog sticks.
Honestly, I think the controller should have looked more like this http://videogamewriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/PS4_controller.jpg
Also, will I be able to play my PS3 games on the PS4, will I be able to use the DS3 instead of the DS4 and how heavy is it?
59
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 8:35 pm by klgary65
yes sounds good with headphone jack,but why did they not put in a microphone instead of speaker so you don’t need separate headse? And what about cross game chat like xbox gamers get,i heard no mention of that.Do they not listen to their customers?
60
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 9:27 pm by captain_crash199
Very, impressed with the DS4 and very relieved they didn’t move the left stick. Excited!!!
61
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 10:05 pm by Syrus_
Thanks GOD Sony didnt go the same route as Nintendo making a tablet.
I love Dualshock and this looks like a great update.
Cant wait until i can buy PS4.
62
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 11:13 pm by Sp4rkyM4rk1337
Very pleased to see it’s a touch pad rather than a touch screen. If I want the latter then I will play a portable system.
63
Posted on 21 February, 2013 at 11:24 pm by Dermado
PMG, the Sixaxis was just a gimmick and now its used by every game first party or not, its greatly recieved and better than using an analogue stick…wait.
Not everything new is good, would the PS3 controller be so expensive without Sixaxis? unlikely, would we miss it? No.
Your point is invalid.
Though i do agree to some extent, Id rather have a polished single player without any gimmicks (crap I dont use, Facebook, online leaderboards) but also a polished online, again without the bolted on crap (think Uncharted 3). Id love for the PS4 to come in 2 forms, one that has all the non gaming nonsense that clutters the XBM, and one just for games.
Im amazed they didnt do that with the slimmerer PS3, and add CGC to them, then people would just have upgraded to them.
Id blame SCEE, but for once its hard to give them the blame >_>.
64
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 2:26 am by Stonesthrow
@46 Thank you! I was starting to think I was alone in this :d Not only have we been playing with this traditional design for over a decade, it’s perfect from top to bottom. They used the same overall design for ps1, ps2 (boomerang design almost gave me a heartattack too) and ps3, why change now all of a sudden? Why make changes to a perfect design in the first place? To me, it feels like they’re changing things just for the hell of changing it.. Either that, or trying to appeal to a different crowd and thereby losing sight of the people who were content with the original design.
Maybe I’m just overreacting, by itself it doesn’t look bad at all. All the small changes just make me worry about how that will effect the overall feel. The controller is by far the most important aspect of a console in my opinion, and I’m very sorry to see the traditional design gone from the next generation.. Please consider releasing an additional model that is exact to the Dualshock3 in terms of size and design!! That way you could please both crowds.
65
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 4:37 am by lloydstar11
this pad looks so cool
66
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 10:58 am by oVen0m3ss_
Sony, please take my money!
67
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 11:14 am by Unicronic
The stereo camera is a much needed addition. The PS Move was really killed off by the PS eye not being able to accurately understand depth perception. FPS & light gun games especially would see horrendous inaccuracies due to the camera. Oh and DS4 HELL YEAH
68
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 12:03 pm by MafiaCub
I love people who say “TAKE MY MONEY!!!” and don’t even know how much it costs.
New control pad looks alright, the touch pad will be interesting, I imagine it will make cross play with Vita games easier as they will now both have touch ability.
The rest of the unveil was so-so. It looks like a good console, but by next year it will be outdated by PCs (again) because the stuff they’re putting in it is a supercharged PC for today. But you can already by PC’s with twice the RAM and a bigger processor for £700, by the end of the year the PC’s could be cheaper than the console and deliver more… I always prefer a console myself, but it didn’t blow me away in any sense.
Glad we can use used games… annoyed that PS3 games and PSN games for my PS3 won’t be supported, because that means I can’t trade up. I need to keep my PS3 AND get a PS4. So for that reason I’m waiting a year, for a price drop and a game catalogue worth jumping for.
69
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 1:14 pm by HEC007
Like? Nothing much … But I can tell what I hate – that stupid worhtless Share button. Take this CRAP away from the direct button and tuck it away somewhere in the game’s menu where it will be not taking valuable space on the controller. Sheees …
70
Posted on 22 February, 2013 at 1:31 pm by Sutman
sweet
71
Posted on 24 February, 2013 at 12:47 pm by cat-charlie
I’m so glad that they kept the symmetricalness of the PS controller! It is so awkward having one stick higher on one side than on the other!
Also I hope that there is a lighter controller, I really dislike the weight on the DS3 controller, I much prefer the weight of the sixaxis only version!
Gonna miss my Start and Select buttons though. *sniff*
72
Posted on 24 February, 2013 at 10:19 pm by AZUELOVE123
I cnt wait for this ps4 to come out i want to get the ps4 GAME…. (^_^)
73
Posted on 27 February, 2013 at 8:45 pm by GeordieNinja
Hi,
The new controller looks great and well built. Will you be making any making of videos about the design process of the controller and the PS4? This would be great to see how much work and the different designs you were going through before the final form factor was decided.
Keep up the good work, the PS4 sure is looking good with all the new power and smart functions,, I cant wait for some more game reveals and information about the system. And please SONY don’t make us Europeans wait for it longer than any other continent. If it has to do wis laws and rules of the other euro countries then I understand the delay, but if its the language bit, just release the console with a warning that it only has english or Japanese menus and that there will be language updates coming with al the different countries languages, just a thought
Bring on wen ever the PS4 will be released. SONY putting play back in to games
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