Any and all opinions on the PS4 controller.

The new share button: Personally i wouldn't have minded if it was a tab in the playstation menu, instead of a dedicated button,

it's weird, i don't quite know how to feel about it.

Price: maybe it's me but the whole controller seems like it's packed with features, what when it breaks?

how much would it cost to get a new one? and would you be able to get one with less features aka a stripped down version that cost less.

as i do not assume that all PS4 games will utilize the touch screen.

I think that on the symmetrical right side of the share button is one that says 'option'. That'll probably bring you back to the full dashboard 'cause that "ram" is pretty complex and will have the game still running in the background. I might be seeing things though...

(I have no idea when to use "" and '' I just guess)

I don't really have a problem with it. It may feel like Sony threw everything and the kitchen sink into it but if it does not get in the way of the core functions i don't mind it. It looks like they improved the one thing i cared about which was the R2 L2 triggers.

The share button seems cool if you use it and if you are going to use it, it should be easy as possible to do. Otherwise people won't use the feature and having it in the menu or xmb maybe one step to many for some. The only worry for me is how start and select function will be delegated.

Other then that it seems the controller is making all the right moves. If it does just about everything i don't have to waste money buying add on or whatever accessory for it. Controllers are also already pricey and i don't think it will cost as much as a wii u controller or anything so i'm not really worried.

One share button to rule them all.

I'm comfortable with the DualShock format of controller so I'm pretty much happy with what I've seen of the new one.

My only disappointment is that it'll probably be an entire year before it makes it to the EU/UK and into my sweaty paws.

I will be extremely excited if it's PC compatible, and you can use that touch pad to control the mouse pointer. Other than that though, it seems like more DualShock, which is fine in my book- the DS3 is my favorite controller at the moment.

It looks like they fixed the triggers which is fantastic, but I still don't like the lay out of the sticks. Also they hopefully tightened up the sticks as the Dualshock 3 sticks always seemed extremely loose and not very accurate.

as long as the triggers feel better they can do what they want with all kind of crazy buttons.

There’s not much point in speculating about stuff like ergonomics until it’s in my hands, but it looks good. The DualShock 3 is a really good controller, so I have faith in them to not mess it up.

The new stick design seems like it will help anchor your thumbs better, which is occasionally a problem for me (mostly because I sweat really easily). I never had a particular problem with the triggers (I don’t play many shooters either, so take that with a grain of salt), but the look to be improved.

The lack of dedicated start and select buttons might be problematic for playing emulated/streamed older games. It might be kind of weird not having one-button access to pause menus for games that need all of the face buttons, unless they’re going to let you hold it down or double-click it for quick access.

I’m glad that, according to Wikipedia, it’s only slightly heavier, though it is quite a bit bigger. I know others don’t like how small the PS3 controller is, but I like it — whenever I pick up a 360 controller, it feels bloated.

I like the Dualshock design, but the 360 controller's left thumbstick position is much better. I would have liked to see Sony copy that. Also, I'd have to see how useful the Move/Sixaxis functionality will be. Sixaxis was used in, what, half a dozen games?

Regardless of how comfortable or how positive the changes are, I'm sad to see the design change. That specific design has been held by me and a lot of other people for the past 15 (coming up on 16) years but I guess progress has to be made at some point. They seem to have addressed at least a few of the complaints that naysayers had with the dualshock family.

It's the exact same piece of shit controller they've been making for years with a couple new buttons. I hope they fix the triggers, those were awful on the PS3. But that won't change the fundamental flaw that the damn thing was designed for Japanese schoolchildren or people with incredibly small hands. It also doesn't change the incredibly inefficient and offensively unergonomic placement of the sticks. Seriously, why is the d-pad in the best seat in the house? It's not the PS1 era anymore, it's not the dominant input, why keep it up there?

My biggest issues with the current controller is those awful triggers and the bulbous analog sticks. Both look much better on this new controller but I'd need some hands-on experience before I can judge anything.

I like the revolutionary new placement of all the buttons.

I'd be genuinely interested to hear what any left-handed people think of that theory of the "dominant positioning" of the 360 sticks.

Two things I've not seen mentioned is the cost of replacement controllers and how many controllers will ship with the launch console?

Will this be a WiiU situation where is it prohibitively expensive to include two? I only got one controller when I bought my PS3. This changed later in the cycle but I assume any base model will ship with one controller and maybe some type of wired headset to plug in.

If people want another they will have to pony up $60 (?) for another. The DS3 is normally $55 so they will at least match that if not go higher.

I like it.

I like the new analog sticks and that the texture on the backside of the controller is different, looks slick. I've gotta pull those triggers to know they fixed them. No disrespect to the DS but maaaan do I loathe the DS3 triggers for anything other than a gas pedal.

@moleyuk: Bah! Left handed people are too busy being Satan's agents in this world to be playing video games.

But not to be misunderstood, I really quite like Playstation in general and I really look forward to the PS4, it just upsets me that they've stuck to the same design for this long without even trying anything new. Microsoft had like three controller revisions before settling into their current design. Sony tried once. They just slapped sticks onto their original PS1 controller design, which was totally fine at the time since it was novel, but it baffles me that in the 15 years since introducing the dualshock they haven't even tried to improve it. Not once. Except the PS3 taco which was just a strangely shaped version of their normal controller. It never felt right to me and by now there are kids who are born before this thing came out so it's not like they'll ever change it. It's too iconic, so they're stuck with the same design.

Yeah it's tempting to say the symmetrical controller is nice for lefties, but that's a massive compromise to make for my comfort, I'd rather just have them sell a separate lefty oriented controller. They're used to it anyway. Games aren't friendly to them in general. I feel like I rarely see southpaw options anymore.

Seems alright to me. I can't say for sure til I can get my hands on it, but it looks like it addresses some issues people have had with ps3 controllers. Not sure how I feel about the touch pad and sensor light thing, but they might be a cool addition to some games.

The fact is there are plenty, and I mean millions of people, who actually, truly, like the current layout of the dualshock and don't want them to go rearranging the sticks. I happen to be one of those people. I've been using that controller forever, and I'm totally used to it.

I also happen to be one of those people who can use PlayStation and Xbox controllers interchangeably and don't really notice much of a difference.

I think it looks rad.

I always preferred the layout of the dualshock 3 controller over that of the 360. I like the softer feel of the buttons and bumpers/triggers on the dualshock 3 and hope they keep that. The shape of the R2 and L2 is an improvement.

@mikkaq: As someone with fairly big hands I have always been alot more annoyed with the 360 controller, mostly because of that damn battery placement which dosnt offer much room for your fingers. Hopefully MS will change that next gen, and make it as comfortable as their wired controller. Also if your argument for wanting the right stick and d-pad switched is that you use the stick more, shouldnt the right stick and face buttons also be switched?

i like that it requires 2 cameras in your living room and that the console cant be turned off and that its always online. i like the idea that everything happening in my house could be listened to and viewed at any moment, and that everything i do could be stored in a database such as stellar wind (google it). thats my favorite thing about the new console ! :)

Does Options work the same as a regular old Start button? I'm not accustomed to a button at that position on the controller, maybe it will work fine or maybe it won't. It's hard to say at this point. If those buttons can be used comfortably, the controller seems fine.

But without both a Start and Select button, emulation of older games is out of the question, isn't it?

i never like the idea of speakers on the controller either, what if i use headphone? or if i'm talking to someone on mic or if i'm trying not to be too loud, i feel like it's a luxury that is frankly not needed, atleast not on the controller.

i have big hands aswell and long fingers, so i place my fingers downwards on the back of the 360 controller, i do wish they make the battery smaller and that it's replaceable, it sucks when you realize that you controller doesn't work and it's the battery, when it can't be replaced. I've always had the problem that the DS3 was always quite small for my big hands, making it uncomfortable to use it when playing shooters, that might just be me tho as i have quite big hands.

i think that's an option, i believe that there will be an option to turn it off, cause sometimes there can go weeks inbetween plays and then it doesn't need to be on at all.

i think the cameras was to track your controller when using the move light, so that might be an option aswell.

i hope we'll see more in the next couple of months coming and thanks to everyone for sharing their opinions :D

I like the look of it and it seems like they made a lot of common sense changes (new analog sticks and triggers). It's a shame they didn't move the left analog stick, but I'm unsurprised by that decision.

I don't really get what people are all up in arms about regarding the Share button. I'm no fan of social networking BS but it makes sense to have those features as accessible as possible, especially given Sony's less-than-stellar track record with social features.

I'm mostly curious about ergonomics at this point. I've noticed my hands cramp during a few sessions of extended use with the DS3, whereas I've never experienced discomfort with the 360 (aside from some particularly intense Super Meat Boy sessions).

Looks good to me. I like the texture they added to the bottoms of the hand grips. If triggers feel better, as they are claiming they do, controller is everything I want from a controller. So kudos to them.

That Share-button seems kind of silly, but I do like how the other button just says "Options" in stead of start, back, etc. The overall ergonomics including the triggers, handles and sticks seem to answer all the problems that people had with the last controller. Overall the pad looks pretty nice, but of course I still need to try it out.

I'm intrigued by it. Looks comfortable but yet very innovative, like "old and new" in one. The layout looks the same as the Dual Shock, just slight differences which I'm happy about because I didn't want them to change it too much. Also like the share button as well, should make for some very interesting moments.

It gets me all hot. Seriously, look at that body.

Is it me or is it getting hot in here? Woo! Let me just take these pants off.

I think it looks pretty fucking cool, as someone who liked the Dualshock 3 but recognized it faults, I think this makes up for it, looks cool to me so can't wait to get my hands on it at some point this year

@cirdain: @phantomzxro: @grantheaslip: The new "Options" button is replacing both the Start & Select buttons. (Thumbs up)

@believer258: The touchpad is going to be used for some gameplay stuff or so I read. The "Options" button is the Start & Select button in one. Also, if you watch Jimmy Fallon talk to Hermen Hulst about the new controller & Killzone, Hermen says the touchpad could be used to go through menus & the speaker can be used to hear radio messages in Killzone.

@djou: Don't all consoles ship with 1 controller? I mean, some BUNDLES usually include 2 controllerw. a regular one and then a shoddy, shitty one. But I'm 100% sure it'll ship with one. I KNOW putting 2 would make them lose money. (I'm from le future!)

@tarsier said:

If it’s transmitting audio and/or video all the time, we’d figure it out basically immediately because someone would catch it sending a bunch of data to a weird server. Sony and/or the US government would be crazy to try that even if it wasn’t totally illegal.

There’s also no indication that the camera is required, let-alone included with the system.

Basically, unless that was all satire, you’re paranoid and don’t understand how technology works.

@awesomeusername said:

Yeah, I know that, the issue is that I kind of like one-touch access to the pause menu. Ideally, a quick tap would pause and a press-and-hold would bring up the options menu.

It's cool.

It actually looks sleeker then it looked in the leaked photo, but hopefully the R2/L2 buttons feel better then they did on the PS3.

I like that its heftier, those handlebars are funny, and the back texture I like!

I am concerned about the position of the share and option buttons. I have a bad issue with my thumb sliding off the stick / face buttons and mistakenly pressing the start button. The position of the share and option buttons seems to me like it would be even easier to accidentally press.

You're right there, the battery placement does suck. I just use the wired one myself, but the problem is they don't make those with the transforming d-pad I love so much.

Also I be pretty happy if they switched the right stick upward. I don't play a lot of shooters on consoles but it is annoying to have my right thumb down constantly for aiming. For that reason I really want to get my hands on that Wii U classic controller that does just that to see if I'd really like it. But as it stands I probably use the face buttons more than the right stick since I tend to keep my shooters on the PC anyway, and I only need to make slight camera adjustments in other kinds of games.

I can't devise a proper opinion until I actually hold and use the thing, but so far I like what I've seen. It looks like Sony has tried to fix any issues the Dualshock 3 had while adding some intriguing new features as well.

I'm guessing one of the more common uses is as a keyboard instead of having an on-screen keyboard.

I liked this prototype that was leaked more. The way the flat, reflective surface is continuous from the D-Pad, across the touchpad, and to the button layout has a real clean look to it. The unveiled DS4 has too many seams.

okay. it sounds like you definitely know your stuff. i trust you, and i trust that the playstation 4 will not record anything i dont want it to or store it on an insecure database. because sony, and the US government has a clear record as far as those things are concerned . also, why would they care what I am doing? im not doing anything wrong. who gives a dang about privacy anyways.

• better (concave rather then convex) triggers, thank fucking god
• form factor moving closer to the 360 controller, again super pleased

While I have never owned a 360, and only a PS3, good god do i fucking hate the playstation controllers compared to the 360 gamepads. This actually makes me more interested in buying the PS4 when the time comes this year even tho i have a beefy gaming PC. Because it was one of the sticking points for me with the last system.

So many straw man arguments! This isn’t about me not caring about privacy or anyone’s track record, it’s about the simple reality that Sony couldn’t do this without getting caught. I never made the “if you’ve got nothing to hide” argument, and never would because it’s stupid and dangerous. Did you even read my post before typing up another tangentially-related rant?

It will be trivially easy for people to check whether or not the PS4 is phoning home with data from the Eye — network monitoring tools would betray it, and people could hook it up through an electricity monitor to see when it’s powering up. I’m very glad we live in a world where people have the wherewithal enough to keep an eye on this stuff, and I’m confident they will. If it turns out that it’s actually happening, by all means, get mad.

Of course, you could also just not use the by-most-acounts-optional Eye — a fact you’re continuing to ignore.

Excuse my 2 second photoshop, but I really wish the controller adopted this layout, other than that I have no problems with it. I just can't play FPS with the current layout.

I wish it was new and innovative instead of iterative, but I guess its too much of a risk to take and ask of a big company. I'm not blaming anyone; i'm just saying that it'd be refreshing with a new design on both the controller and the actual hardware casing, but maybe the latter will surprise us still.

I like it as far as ergonomics and looks go, but I'm a bit concerned over the lack of Start and Select buttons. How many games make heavy use of both of those buttons for basic functionality, like bringing up the map quickly? Tons, if not most. So just having one button for that is slightly worrisome if that means having to dig into a menu, then go down and select map, for instance, every time you want to see it. Sure, they could solve that issue with the touchpad, but then you're just adding new tech to substitute existing functionality you took away. And just how sensitive is that thing anyway, and how many individual 'buttons' can be mapped to it? If it's a solid four quadrant kind of thing that works well and is easy to hit with the thumbs, great, but if it doesn't just work predictably every time, that could be a significant annoyance.

I can imagine the touchpad being used via gesture swipes rather than touch buttons. Gestures would eliminate the issue of having to imagine the button boundaries of a touchpad. It could even add a level of immersion given the right context. Think of a Far Cry type of shooter:

1. Swiping up would bring up the map
2. Swiping left would have the character bring his watch into view
3. Swiping right would bring the gun into view for inspection
4. Swiping down would exit out of the prior actions.

@Andorski

for a game like skyrim, all those swiping moves could easily subsitute the select and start button, oh and the option button seems like a good idea, it just forces games to think alittle out of the box when talking about menus.