Well, the PlayStation 4 is real and now that the meeting is over, it’s time to dive into the details. Sony has released the specs of the PS4’s new controller, the DualShock 4, which pretty closely mimics, though is a lot more polished than, the controller that was leaked early this week (more pics).
The specs confirm that the touchpad is clickable which adds yet another input for developers to utilize. Six-axis is here to stay, though the release claims that it’s a “new highly sensitive six-axis sensor”. Regarding the functionality of the LED light bar on the top, they had this to say:
DUALSHOCK®4 features a light bar on the top with three color LEDs that illuminate in various colors. The light bar illuminates to match the color of characters in a game to offer a simpler, more friendly way to identify players, even when playing side by side. The light bar also changes patterns during gameplay to provide useful information to gamers, such as when a character is critically low on health or has taken major damage.
The front of the controller features a speaker so that audio cues can also come from the controller itself. The bottom has a jack for a stereo headset and a mono headset will be included with every PS4, so there are no more excuses for not having a mic. Presumably there will be additional peripherals to be able to upgrade the headset that you can use, especially as the jack is stereo enabled.
The Select and Start buttons have now been integrated into one “Options” button on the right side of the touch pad. That leaves room on the left side of the pad for the heavily rumored “Share” button, which enables players to share content almost instantly. They also were sure to mention that you can even charge the DualShock 4 when the PlayStation 4 is on standby or via smartphone chargers via USB. The overall feel of the triggers and analog sticks have been improved.
If you’re interested in the specific numbers, Sony also provided those.
External Dimensions – Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm (width x height x depth)
(tentative, excludes largest projection)Weight – Approx. 210g (tentative)
Keys / Switches – PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button,
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right),
Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square),
R1/L1/R2/L2 button, Left stick / L3 button, Right stick / R3
button, Pad ButtonTouch Pad – 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
Motion Sensor – Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)
Other Features – Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
Ports – USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
Wireless Communication – Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR
Battery Type – Built-in Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
Voltage DC3.7V (tentative)
Capacity 1000mAh (tentative)
With such a vast variety of features, one concern may be battery life of the controller, though charging while on standby may help alleviate any shortfalls in the battery. Do you like the new design of the controller? Let us know your thoughts and stick with us for the rest of 2013 while we bring you all of the PS4 coverage leading up to release.
