How are your analog sticks holding up? (DualShock 4)

I got my PS4 a week ago, and while I'm still using my PS3 most of the time I've logged at least 3 or 4 hours of NBA 2K14, an hour of Resogun and goofed around in the store for a minute. It was only one or two days over that first weekend before I noticed my left thumb getting noticeably fatigued, almost like I was rubbing it too fast on a carpet or rug and getting a burn. So I look down and notice there are little flakes of rubber all over my controller and super small but noticeable scar-like mark. It hasn't gotten worse since, but just today I booked another 30-ish minutes of Resogun and I started making a rubber-flake mess all over again.

So I look around and, yes, it does seem to be a problem; 37.5% of 6,000 pollsters said so. So I'm curious, how're the Giantbomb community's thumbsticks doing, and have you had to deal with Amazon/Sony/other about the issue? I wouldn't mind sending it in right now since inFamous is the first game that's going to bring serious run to the console, but if it can stop getting worse I'm fine with it not being perfect, also. That screenshot at the top of the linked page sure looks dreadful, though.

My two are doing fine, though they haven't been worked all too hard, but yeah it is a problem. From what I have heard both Amazon and Sony are really good about replacing them.

My two DS4s have a noticeable difference in texture between the sticks. One has a smooth material on them and one has a rougher material. I am fully prepared for one of them will probably start peeling.

Absolutely flawless despite triple digit hours working hard sweat into the right stick in under a few weeks time (War Thunder joypad + mouse). As always, contact Sony in case of issues. Even the sticky R1/L1 issue. And forget about that 37.5% number, that's kinda busted (the poll and how those kind of polls work - of course they attract those who have the problem far more than those who don't).

Europe / November 29th / Made in China PS4 bundled / CUH-ZCT1E : 21102380101861 / No analogue stick problems, slightly sticking R1 that was easily solved

Launch day PS4, use the controller for everything now, PS3, PS4 and PC. No problems with the sticks, just wish it had a longer battery life.

Sounds like you want to get in touch with Sony asap duder!

My controller's still like new, but I haven't exactly been playing my PS4 every day or anything either. My PS4's starting to get some regular use between this month and next, though, so if there's an issue with my controllers I'll probably know about it soon.

Launch PS4 and both my controllers still look brand new. I play it often too. Maybe some people have sweaty hands.

Mine are doing just fine. I've beaten Killzone, 100%'ed Lego Marvel, and played a bit of Outlast. Maybe 40-50 hours of use since I got the system?

I've only had my PS4 for about 25 days so I can't really comment but I will so ha! My sticks are still fine. I check them every so often because I heard of this problem like last month. Hopefully mine stays good forever. I'll point out that I have used my Dualshock for 30+ hours.

Mine are fine, but I switch between them every couple of days, to try to keep the wear and tear spread out between the two. But that probably just means they'll both wear out at the same time though. Huh.

Mine are completely fine, but I haven't even had it a month yet and haven't used it all that much so maybe it'll get messed once I start using it more. I don't know, I've never had that issue with controllers.

Been using them daily and they are fine just as if they were new. I heard the reports of the rubber edges tearing off but mine are fine. I don't have a fighting game that may stress the sticks more to truly put them to the test.

The bottom of my left stick is noticeably worn. Which, is to be expected I suppose.

And what about traditions? Shitty controller goes to player two, everyone knows that!

I've played roughly 20 hours of ACIV, 10-15 hours of Tomb Raider, about 5 hours of Lego, an hour of Knack and a few hours of Need for Speed and both my controllers are still in tip top shape. I've heard of this problem, but haven't experienced it yet. Hopefully I won't at all.

My analog sticks are holding up my thumbs........

Thanks to being into Battlefield 4, I've been playing my PS4 pretty much every day since I got it. I'd say between Battlefield 4, and all the other games I've got (Killzone, NfS Rivals, Don't Starve, Outlast), I've likely clocked in around 400 hours of playtime on my PS4.

I've got two DS4's, which I alternate when they run out of juice. My analogsticks are as fine as they were on day 1. One of the gamepads had some kind of odd *clicky* spot in the hardshell, but it has since settled. Guess Foxconn or whoever had some growing pains on their production line, when so many people have issues (albeit I'd discount roughly 10% of those votes for being fanboys trolling the internet). 25% is still quite a high failure rate though. Or whatever the true number is. Likely much fewer than that.

This is the kind of thing you see in a first run, but never again later. Sucks for those who draw the short straw, though Sony will definitely replace those, I bet.

I took a quick estimate of how much I have used my controller...about 100+ hours and it still looks brand new except form smuges. I'm sorry, I cannot conceive of how people are taking the rubber off the analaogus sticks unless they sweat 60% mineral salts, uric acid, urea, ammonia, and lactic acid.

I bet it does come down to that, if you sweat a lot (or piss on your hands...you nasty weirdo) you are putting what amounts to mild acid on the rubber. Sony might have to reformulate the mix to make it more resistant. But, really folks if the rubber is coming off you controller, you're admitting you piss out of your skin like some twisted freak.

I think it's just a material failure in a single batch of contollers. I can hardly imagine it's down to Sony underestimating the goatlike sweatglands of some people.

I'll worry about that during the two or three times I have two people using the thing at once during the lifetime of the machine.

The left stick on the controller that came with my console is very worn, there' s a small tear in it and the rubber is very thin. The 2nd controller I picked up a couple months after launch is also noticeably starting to wear. The right sticks on both seem pretty much good as new.

I think I've put over a 100 hours on mine and haven't noticed any problems.

*sigh* well I called it in and it's not a very convenient process. I have to find my own shipping materials and prepare it all myself. I was really hoping it'd be an RMA sort of situation like Apple does where they'd send me the shipping materials. I need to find a printer too...

damn you early adoption *shakes fist*

Mine's still feel smooth and sexy, they give me that nice good reflex action.

I use mine on my PC all the time, right now the sticks and the controller in general are holding up great.

No problems currently but haven't really put that much abuse on the controller yet. Love it just wish the DS4 to PC worked for me. Couldn't get it to work correctly.

The rubber on my left stick is flaking away fast. Being a dad of three young kids, I don't really get to play all that much, so it isn't holding up too well.

As for the sweat theory, my original 7 year old PS3 controller is still as new, as is my 2 year old 360 controller, so there does seem to be something wrong wight eh rubber on some PS4 controllers.

I still love my PS4, though.

It's fine for me so far, although I think the sticks are a little loose now. Maybe it's because I'm used to the tighter sticks now as opposed to the DS3 or maybe it's because I've been using it for a quite a bit, either way it doesn't feel quite as tight as I remembered.

My controller seems fine, but then again, would be surprised if its seen north of fifty hours of use since I got it in November.

Yeah, the rubber is getting pretty worn down on my left stick.

No problems over here so far. Then again, I haven't played it 24/7 since those first few weeks with Resogun.

My left stick is starting to peel. Anyone called Sony for a replacement, I may.

@mr187uk: like I said above, I did and unfortunately shipping the original unit is all on you, and they said the turnaround time is 7-10 days from the time they receive the package, meaning it could take a month to get a replacement back. I have 30 days to respond to my service request but since the first week it's sort of calmed down so I'm thinking I might just wait it out and buy another one down the road before filling out another service request.

If only you guys had tried the kontrol freek CQC's. I can't go back. No fucking way.

A good guy at my shop told me that his customers with busted rubber issues are the ones who play hard with their thumbs jammed down into the sticks, with fingernails poking into and cutting it.

How..

They aren't. The material they use is just bad. Plain and simple. The only people who may not have this are casuals who grip the controller very lightly. Otherwise, after 4 months and addiction to FF14 on PC my left one is waxy, soft, and totally cracked. Still useable I guess. And no I don't use my finger nails. Even when you clean these pads the cloth you use will pull on them. They are super thing and very very feeble.

And again to combat these crazy naysayers the material is dogshit anyway even when new. It feels gross imo. My new DS3 feels so much better on the thumbsticks. I refuse to buy another one of these until they fix them.

They are just way too soft in the material for the sticks.

My HONEST suggestion is to NOT call Sony unless you can't even use your controller. Once they run through these shitty rubberish pads one would hope they find a new material for the sticks. I don't even want a new DS4 because the same thing is going to happen.

Had my ps4 since launch, play it nearly everyday...not one sense of an issue. It really has to be how some people hold the controller and that combined with the type of rubber used causes this issue.

I personally really like the rubber and don't grip it like a freak so its still like brand new.

I was wicked skeptical on the appearance of those original stick degradation reports. But sure enough my left stick has become noticeably smoother and ever so slightly less contoured than the right. Nowhere near the apocalyptic exploding rubber I've seen online but it's definitely an issue.

Weird thing is I just don't care. That controller feels so good.

My sticks (mainly the left one) started wearing away with regular use (I don't have sweaty hands and I haven't used my PS4 a lot). After two months, the rubber on the left stick tore off to reveal the hard plastic under it. I sent Amazon an email (I purchased my PS4 through them) and they refunded me $60 the same day with no questions asked. I didn't buy a controller since there's definitely a problem with some of them. Instead, I got these: ORB Controller Thumb Grips 4-Pack (PS4) They are definitely an upgrade, even if your sticks haven't torn apart yet. They fit tight (feels stock, doesn't slide or twist), and they provide tons of grip. It includes two concave grips and two convex bumpy grips. I spent $8, and it shipped for free from UK to US (took almost 3 weeks to arrive though). The rubber on the replacement grips is holding up flawlessly after a lot of use.

Contacting Sony about the issue, they told me to ship the controller in at my own cost and wait 4-6 weeks (while having no controller) to find out whether or not they are willing to replace it. Amazon had $60 back on my debit card after 6 hours and two emails. Amazon gave me a choice between replacing the whole PS4, sending in the controller for replacement, or a $60 refund (while keeping the controller). Suck it, Sony. There is definitely an issue with at least some of these controllers. I've had multiple controllers last 6+ years with zero issues, and with DS4 I only got 2 months of light use before the rubber ripped off.

Wow, thanks for the hot tip. I still haven't sent mine in since after the initial discomfort, I actually don't notice anything wrong with it anymore even though, like you, I have a seam that reveals the hard plastic (and after just two weeks, most of it spent on the FF14 beta!). I'll definitely contact Amazon tomorrow and see if I can't get a more convenient offer from them; I honestly hadn't even thought of that as an option (I only order things through Amazon once or twice a year, if that).

Good, I guess. Though I haven't played it all that much.

No problems and I've been playing Warframe religiously

For anyone else who ordered through Amazon, I received my $60 credit less than 10 minutes after I shot them an email. Now I'm trying to decide what to spend it on, again I'm not sure I actually need a new controller even though it looks lame...but their roster of PS4 digital codes is pretty weak, so I might just grab South Park.