While Xbox’s philosophy around controller design has pretty much come down to “stick to what works,” PlayStation has gone a different route, adding new functionality with each generation. The PS5 DualSense is the pinnacle of everything Sony has learned over the years, adding in new features that can take the way players interact with their games to new levels. And right now, Amazon has the PS5 DualSense in its chroma colorways on sale for 26% off at the moment. Normally sold for $80, the current $21 discount ends up taking the price down to just $59 for a limited time.
Immersive Controls
Taking a look at the PlayStation 5 DualSense next to its predecessor—the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4—you can see a number of refinements and additions.
Perhaps the most interesting of the bunch is the adaptive triggers. The left and right triggers are able to change the pressure it takes to pull them back based on things happening in game. This is showcased brilliantly in Housemarque’s newest release Saros as well as its previous game Returnal. Depending on how far your pull the trigger, your guns can have varying effects. 2024’s Game of the Year winner at The Game Awards Astro Bot also highlights the triggers expertly.
The traditional rumble motors PlayStation controllers used to have has been replaced with dual actuators which allow for haptic feedback. The DualSense can dynamically vibrate to simulate physical effects in the game. If it’s raining, you’re feel every drop. If you’re rushing through some brush, you’ll feel every blade of grass. The recoil of one weapon will feel different from the next. You can see this to its fullest in Astro Bot as well.
Something else you won’t find on an Xbox controller is the accelerometer and gyroscope which work in games that support motion controls. Again, Astro Bot does just about everything you can conceive of with motion controls. Seriously, you should probably take some of the case you’re saving on this discounted controller and put it toward Astro Bot if you want to see everything the PS5 DualSense is capable of.
Beyond just your PS5 the DualSense controller can be used with your PC, Mac, or even mobile devices. Just connect over USB-C or wirelessly with Bluetooth.
The PS5 DualSense is available in a wide range of colors. You can pick between chroma finishes like pearl, indigo, and teal. Each of these are discounted down to $59. Other standard finishes like the white, galactic purple, and cosmic red are down to between $54 and $55 for a limited time.