DualSense’s adaptive triggers show how to give a button a next-gen feel

The PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is an incredible input device, perhaps the most tangible example of the “next generation” game that the new wave of consoles has offered to date. But you won’t necessarily see the upgrades just by looking at Sony’s controller.

At first glance, there are few differences between the PS4’s DualShock 4 and the PS5’s DualSense, which share nearly identical button layouts. But the DualSense changes the game nonetheless (literally), thanks to the near-magic of its adaptive trigger system, which can adjust the tension of the rear buttons to make it easier (or more) to press them in response to gameplay.

Turns out the answer to the controller revolution isn’t adding more buttons, but making the ones we already have a deeper and better experience.

All you need to do is grab a DualSense and jump into a game to see that it looks nothing like its predecessor. The first PS5 game I played was Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and I still remember feeling the rumble of a train or the crackle of electricity through the haptic feedback of the controller – another new addition to this generation – for the first time.

But even more critical is how adaptive triggers change web failover. Each * thwip * of a web as Miles flies over Manhattan now has a slight resistance, adding a sense of life and momentum to the crossing. From a gameplay point of view, the controls are practically the same as those of the PS4 Spider Man. But new technology is bringing the game to life in a new dimension.

From a technical point of view, this is an incredibly impressive system: each trigger actually has a separate gear motor that allows the controller to adjust tension and resistance on the fly. Depending on how the motor is engaged, it can look like anything from a smooth, effortless glide to an almost physical fight to pull the trigger. And while I’m still a little wary of long-term durability here (more moving parts usually mean more points of failure), this is one of the most intelligently designed buttons in tech today.

And the benefits of DualSense are evident in several PS5 games. In Astro Games Room (which is designed as a showcase for the new controller), you can feel the fiery rush of a jetpack and the tinkle of every bowstring. In AllStars Destruction, triggers help you subtly tell yourself when you are accelerating or braking by increasing or decreasing the pressure needed to push them, and alert you to the impending destruction of your vehicle with a feeling of buckling when you push your battered car to the limit . FortniteEveryone’s pistols feel unique with the DualSense, with a shotgun, pistol shot, and heavy shotgun all firing differently on the new console.

Seeing how games take advantage of the new triggers has already become one of my favorite things to do every time I launch a new PS5 game, and Sony has done an amazing job of making each press of those buttons more meaningful.

Often times when talking about next-gen consoles the emphasis is on the idea of ​​immersion – increasing the graphics to make games look even more like real life. But by focusing on improving not only the look of games, but also the feel of games, the DualSense arguably does more for immersion than any graphics upgrade (especially since, unlike faster frame rates or higher resolutions, it doesn’t require a fancy new TV to benefit from). This opens up a whole new avenue for developers to keep you up to date with what’s happening onscreen and take you even further into the gaming world.

There’s another universe where Sony’s PlayStation 5 controller took inspiration from its DualShock Back Button attachment and simply added more palettes and inputs for gamers – an approach taken by the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, by example. It’s not a bad approach, especially for more advanced gamers who want that flexibility and customization, but it doesn’t make games more immersive or open up new ways to interact with what you’re playing.

DualSense is a different approach, which recognizes that the way forward for controllers isn’t just to add more buttons; it’s to make those with whom we already have more information, more engaging, and more fun to interact with.