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DualShock Redesign for PS4?

PlayStation will bring an end to a sixteen-year tradition of DualShock controllers with the release of the PlayStation 4, CVG has learned.

A senior games studio source working on an upcoming Sony game says the new system’s controller has undergone numerous iterations, few of which resemble the DualShock build that has become synonymous with PlayStation.

Experiments within Sony’s R&D department are thought to have been extensive. Versions of the new PS4 pad include biometric sensors on the grips and an LCD touch screen, the development source claimed.

A second source, working in a separate part of the industry but still connected to Sony, said PlayStation engineers are “trying to emulate the same user interface philosophies as the PS Vita”. This is likely a reference to the touch-screen capabilities of the PlayStation handheld, and a suggestion that Sony will tightly integrate its portable and home systems.

Not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I love the Dualshock, it’s the controller I grew up with. On the other hand, I can understand the general frustrations; the lack of grip, lack of overall size, stick positioning and convex triggers. 

I don’t think the controller necesserily needs an overhaul. In my eyes, the addition of deeper, concave triggers, the widening of the controller to add a little distance between the sticks and moving the sticks a bit higher would result in a near perfect gaming controller. You’d have more grip, responsive buttons and sticks that your thumbs fall naturally directly onto. 

We know Sony loves crazy shit. I don’t however want the split controller Sony patented a while back, nor do I want a controller with a screen (I can sense the Nintendo fanboy attacks already!). Anyone that thinks they’ll use the Vita as a controller is crazy; most people can’t afford it and Sony certainly won’t pack it in to the PS4.  It just doesn’t offer the same level of precise control the Dualshock does, with it’s smaller loose sticks and lack of a second row of shoulder buttons.

I’ll accept a radical overhaul if the controller is used to control something that is drastically different in design to the PS3 and it’s XMB though. If Sony have come up with an innovative, usable interface that absolutely necessitates a new controller, then I’m all for it!

The article mentions Biometric sensors too, which would also be kinda cool. It’d definitely be interesting to see what devs did with that tech. The ideas for horror games are obvious, but what about something like Call of Duty? Kojima wanted Snake to experience battle highs in MGS4, what if the CoD could tell you were both on a crazy killstreak and your heart was pumping, and activated a ‘battle high’ killstreak that enhance your accuracy, speed etc. What if the game could sense your nervousness, and made your in game character reflect that?

Or maybe Sony just want to return to the Boomerang?

At the very least, I’m glad Sony is thinking about this kind of stuff. It shows a desire to improve and innovate, which I gladly welcome! It’s not a new Sony console unless it does something crazy and/or weird.