Opinion from
C. Scott Brown
I am one of the lucky buyers who received a Sony PlayStation 5 just days after it launched in the US. I've played it every day since I took it out of the box. If you haven't had a chance to try it out, I can confirm that the graphics are fantastic and the speeds are incredibly fast. It's an extremely powerful console that makes gaming beautiful.
However, as a primary PC gamer, I have to honestly answer this: yawning. My high-end gaming PC already delivers incredible graphics, smooth frame rates and high speeds. I also have fast internet in my house, so during my time with Microsoft's Game Pass streaming and Nvidia GeForce Now I played silly gorgeous games. Graphics, speed, and frame rates just aren't that impressive anymore.
However, one thing about the PS5 really blew me away: the PS5 DualSense controller. It alone makes me rethink my commitment to PC gaming. I actually thought about buying next-gen PC games on the PS5 instead of Steam, just because of the controller. It's so amazing.
PlayStation 5 DualSense Controllers: A Miracle To See
I realize that very few people reading this have had the opportunity to use the controller. I will try my best to describe why it is so amazing.
First of all, the ergonomics of the controller has been completely redesigned compared to the DualShock 4 of the PlayStation 4 console. Now the handles are a lot more similar to the ones on Xbox controllers which is just great. I've always liked Sony controllers, but the Xbox One controller is the gold standard for me. Any controller who tries to make themselves feel this good is A-OK in my book.
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Out of shape, the new haptic feedback is what really makes the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller a masterpiece. We've had rumbling controllers for years, synchronizing with what's happening on the screen, right? The DualSense takes this to a whole new level. Now the haptic response is so precise and localized that you can feel even the smallest details regarding the game you are playing.
Sony shows this in the title of the PS5: Astro's Playroom. It starts to rain at certain points during the game. While it rains, the DualSense controller vibrates with tiny, precise bumps, reproducing the feeling of raindrops on your hand. At another point you will be thrown across the screen by an enemy. In this case, the vibration hits hard on one side of the controller and then moves on the other side (and slowly dissipates) to mimic what you're seeing on your TV.
The haptic feedback of the DualSense is literally a real game changer.
The analog triggers (R2 and L2) also have adaptive technology. This increases the resistance of the trigger the further you pull it back. In other words, it's almost like playing the reverse tug of war with the trigger - like it's fighting you. It's incredibly satisfying and completely immersive.
When you add all of that up, you get a controller that is actually part of the game. It's no longer just an input device, but part of the gaming experience. This is something I just can't replicate with a PC, no matter how powerful it may be. It finally creates a value proposition for owning a PS5 outside of the main reason I bought it: playing the legendary PlayStation-exclusive games.
The dominance of the PS5 is now with the game studios
The aforementioned Astro's Playroom is a very cute (and very fun) little game. However, it's essentially a glorified tech demo, and not a game that requires you to stop working to play it. It's not the type of game that makes you cry or make you so excited you can barely sleep.
However, this type of game is on the go. I'm a huge Resident Evil fan, and the latest installment in the series - Resident Evil: Village - will hit PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in 2021. As a horror / action game, there are so many options the developer could do with the new PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. I can imagine a swelling rumble as an enemy chases you, growing and pulsing as they get closer. The raindrop effect could also be used very effectively in this game. Obviously, Resident Evil games involve a lot of gunfight, so these adaptive triggers for immersion are very powerful. Can you imagine the horror you would feel if you ran out of ammunition during a fight and the trigger blocked in your hand in response? It would be so exciting.
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Of course, all of this only happens if developers can manage it. I'm sure this is a lot of extra work for the developers and this work will only benefit a certain subset of gamers i.e. those who play on a PS5.
If I was in Sony's shoes, I'd throw big bucks to publishers and independent developers to convince them to endorse the PlayStation 5 DualSense. There's no doubt that its first-party studios like Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and more will push the technology to its limits, but it has to be the big third-party companies like EA, Capcom, Take-Two, Activision Blizzard, and beyond. Publishers may not see it as that important to their own bottom line, but Sony's dominance in the console world depends on there being something that really sets it apart from the crowd.
Keep in mind that Nintendo tried to make HD Rumble a thing with the Nintendo Switch. While that was super cool in certain games (like 1-2 Switch), it wasn't fully exploited by a lot of publishers. Rumble has it that the team behind HD Rumble is the same team as the feel of DualSense. Let's hope Sony sees the real value of this new technology and doesn't let it stagnate like Nintendo does.
The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller could turn me into a console gamer
I know this might sound weird, but the PlayStation 5 is my first console that wasn't made by Nintendo. That's right, I made it through all of video game history with only Nintendo consoles until last week. In all honesty, I haven't missed a lot. Almost every game I wanted to play is available either on PC or on the currently modern Nintendo console. I just handed over the PlayStation exclusive versions or waited for them to get a port. It wasn't a big deal.
See also: Nintendo Switch Buying Guide: Everything You Need To Know
However, the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller can change everything. When a game hits PC, users playing the same game on a PS5 can have a richer and more effective experience than PC players or even Xbox Series X and Series S players.
Similarly, the DualSense controller is now the IMAX theater of the gaming world. Sure, you could see the latest Marvel movie in a regular old theater where it will look and sound great. Or you could pay a little more and see it on a giant screen with a sound system blowing your eardrum out.
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At some point - or at least hopefully - Sony will not be able to use these ultra-realistic haptics and adaptive triggers exclusively. Just like normal rumble effects, the benefit is carried over to other consoles and PCs. But until then, why should I buy Resident Evil: Village on Steam when I can buy it for PS5 and the controller kinda scares me? In Horizon Forbidden West, why would I want to fire an arrow from my bow without a controller mimicking the resistance of the bow's retraction?
The bottom line is that graphics and speed are just bells and whistles. Experience makes gaming a billion dollar industry, and the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller enhances my gaming experience more than anything even my PC can offer. I wasn't expecting this when I unpacked the PS5, and it changes the way I see it.