PS4 Controllers

It used to be that the humble controller was a virtual afterthought in the minds of many gamers. While different controllers from a host of accessory manufacturers have always existed, offering slight variations to the current norm, controllers by and large all did the same thing. Being able to turn on rapid fire or program a series of commands into a single button press was about the extent of controller innovation.

That of course all changed with the release of the Nintendo Wii and its Wiimote controller. No longer were controllers seen as mere tools, but as actual extensions of the games themselves. Sony and Microsoft were both quick to capitalize on the success of the Wii, bringing their own comparable control systems to market in late 2010.

This sudden, increased importance which is now being placed on controllers leads to obvious questions about the PlayStation 4, and the road Sony will take to deliver the action to their players. Will they release a convention controller in addition to some form of motion controller? What features will these two devices have? Or will they ditch one or the other entirely and focus on just one aspect of gaming?

Let the Past be our Guide to the Future
Before we try to draw some conclusions about the future of PlayStation controllers, let’s first take a look back into the past. The main PlayStation controller has stayed relatively unchanged over the years. In the days of the PlayStation, the trend was for controllers to get larger and more convoluted. This was seen most notably in the haphazard design of the Nintendo 64 controller, which the Xbox controller would later take cues from.

The PlayStation controller on the other hand was very similar to those of the SNES and Genesis a generation earlier. It was smaller and more ergonomically designed, with a button layout very similar to the SNES’s controller, save for two extra shoulder buttons. During the PS1’s lifetime, this controller would see two major additions, getting dual analog sticks, and force feedback, or rumble. This would also add 3 more buttons to the controller, with a new analog button in the middle, and the L3 and R3 buttons that could be activated by pressing in the analog sticks.

The PlayStation 2’s Dual Shock 2 controller stayed remarkably similar to its predecessor, with pressure sensitive buttons being the only major addition over the first Dual Shock. As many considered the Dual Shock to be the best controller on the market at the time, there were no complaints with Sony sticking to the status quo with the Dual Shock 2.

The PlayStation 2 did see one compelling new addition control-wise though, and that was the eye-toy peripheral. While not widely adopted by PS2 owners (less than 10% would ultimately purchase the device), or game developers, the device offered a compelling glimpse into the future of control methods, and at its core is very similar to the Xbox 360’s upcoming Project Natal.

The Dual Shock 3 continued the tradition of keeping what worked about the original design and adding in modern elements, most notably its wireless functionality, motion sensing capabilities, and connectivity with the PlayStation Portable handheld gaming system.

Despite the Dual Shock 3’s motion sensing ability, Sony opted to develop and release a completely independent motion sensing control setup when they announced the PlayStation Move, scheduled for release later in 2010. The Move will come with two separate devices, the navigation controller and the motion controller.

What Will We Hold (or Not Hold) in the Future?
So now the big question is, what will the PS4 hold in terms of controllers? It’s probably safe to assume that standard controllers and some form of motion sensing will both be included with Sony’s next console.

On the motion sensing front, we’re likely to see something along the lines of the Move, only more refined. The release date of the PS4 will obviously play a large role in determining what technology it will come equipped with. The sooner it’s released, the more likely it is we’ll see something closer to the Move. On the other hand, if the PS4 doesn’t get released for several years yet, it could be we’ll see something completely different. The possibility that we see a virtual reality style system with body movements dictating in-game actions is a possibility.

It’s also likely we’ll see a Dual Shock 4, probably with its own motion sensing as well. Perhaps the most exciting new technology we’ll see in the Dual Shock 4 will be a built-in screen for controlling the action in multiplayer games, or for displaying other important information. Connectivity with Sony’s next portable gaming machine is also a likely possibility.

Stay Tuned
Of course it could be we’ll see something totally out of the blue that will completely catch all of us by surprise, and usher in a new era of gaming. No matter what it is, we can’t wait to try it out. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled to this section for all the latest updates and discussion on everything related to PlayStation 4 controllers.