As a long-time PlayStation fan, I was excited to get my hands on the new DualSense Edge controller for the PS5. Nearly every generation of PlayStation brings a new suite of features and benefits for the controller, its most important accessory. As cool as the DualSense Edge is, asking the average person to spend 200 dollars on a controller is tough if they can't see the immediate benefits over the existing DualSense, available at a fraction of the cost..
After five generations of PlayStation consoles, we’ve had controllers with rumble, motion sensing, built-in microphones, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. The one area that Sony rarely ventures into is the world of premium controllers, but it’s changing that with the DualSense Edge. Its newest design gives players a controller to fit not only their playstyle, but also the ability to seamlessly tailor it based on the game they are playing. The DualSense Edge controller adds a suite of new options, buttons, and customizations, all shown in trailers and product pages. However, what can't be shown in the videos are all the features the controller offers, and how granular you can get with setting it up.
Connecting the DualSense Edge adds a new menu to the PS5 settings section, where you can customize the controller's inputs. There are tools for adjusting button layouts, including disabling or doubling up on button inputs, swapping almost any input to another, adjusting the dead zones, sensitivities, and more. An onscreen image mirrors your inputs, giving you an easy-to-understand visual representation of what you're doing on the controller and how it will affect the output. This made it extremely easy to make minor or major adjustments and immediately understand how it would affect my actions in-game. You can tell a lot of time and effort has been sunk into the menus to ensure players understand what they are adjusting so they can get it just right.
The DualSense Edge can store three customizable and one standard profile on the controller itself, giving you access to them no matter where you are – even if you connect to a different PS5. Profiles can be swapped mid-game by pressing the new function (Fn) buttons along with the corresponding face buttons. My favorite thing about this is the ability to map different control schemes to multiple profiles for the same game when it features a variety of weapons. Thinking of how I could set up separate profiles for my short-range and long-range weapons in Apex Legends and other FPS games makes me excited to dive back in to experiment with swapping profiles based on the loadouts I need at any point during the match.
This also seems like it could make for an amazing feature for those looking for a more accessible PS5 controller. For instance, flipping the inputs on the controller to swap the D-pad and face buttons is just one of the ways you can configure it. Hopefully, those who struggle with the traditional DualSense will find a way to make the Edge work for them. I didn't get to perfect my settings during my demo, but it left me intrigued about how to configure mine for all the games I play when it’s released.
You can store up to 30 controller profiles per PSN account on your PS5 and slot them into the three customizable inputs as you see fit. You can adjust profiles by pressing the Fn + Options to immediately jump to the DualSense Settings, and return directly to your game by repeating the same command. It's a feature that will see a lot of use for those who want to fine-tune their settings and make adjustments on the fly to get that perfect feel. Being able to instantly swap the sensitivity of my controller based on whatever weapon I end up with likely won’t match the precision of a mouse and keyboard on a PC, but it definitely has the potential to help shrink the gap.
If you have a Pulse 3D headset, using the Fn button and D-pad commands will allow you to adjust the chat levels in your headset without having to fiddle blindly with the button while wearing the headset (or being diverted into a bunch of menus that pull you out of your game). This feature will be great when you're playing with friends and you need to decrease their volume so they aren't drowning out the footsteps of enemies..
Now for the physical stuff that we've seen in images and trailers.
The DualSense Edge has a fancy new touchpad that features a repeated pattern of the face buttons, and its textured grips are a welcome improvement over the current versions of the DualSense. Though it’s slightly heavier than the baseline controller, it's balanced quite well; most of the weight has been moved to its center so it’s hardly noticeable. The new Fn buttons beneath the analog sticks are easily accessible without obstructing your standard inputs and give quick customization I’ve never had before in a controller.
The most enticing new feature is its new back button options. These will likely be the most appealing factor for those considering upgrading to the DualSense Edge. The ability to include additional inputs in alternate locations will be a boon to those who like to remap their buttons from game to game. Each controller will come with two pairs of back buttons, a half dome, and levers that attach magnetically to the back. These are easy to connect and sturdy enough to perform various button-mashing situations without the fear of them falling off. I found the half dome more practical when playing games like Apex and God of War: Ragnarok, whereas the levers worked better for Gran Turismo 7.
The triggers now have switches next to them that operate independently and will give you three options that let you adjust the maximum range for pulling on the triggers. This helped minimize my time to fire. There are also settings in the new UI to change the dead zones for each to adjust them more granularly, fine tuning how long it takes to reach the minimum or maximum distance to recognize your input. FPS games will most likely benefit from a decrease in the maximum pull distance. In contrast, racing games will benefit from having a broader range to adjust when using the triggers for acceleration or braking. The beauty of the DualSense Edge is that everyone can configure it to their preferred settings and what works best for them. One game I wasn’t able to test but am intrigued to revisit is Returnal, since it’s my favorite so far that utilizes haptic feedback and the adaptive triggers.
The analog sticks are extremely easy to remove and swap out the caps, but not so easy that they will come off during regular use. Removing the analog sticks can be done quickly by sliding a button on the back to pop off the cover surrounding them, then lifting the lever next to the stick you wish to remove. This feature is very appealing as the controller bundled with my console has begun to drift in recent months. Though I’m hoping it won’t happen, it's much more attractive to my wallet to spend a small amount on a replacement stick module than needing to replace an entire new controller should one of the sticks ever begin to drift.
Finally, the last thing included is a lengthy braided cable with a detachable lock to prevent the cable from detaching accidentally, and can be easily threaded through the case to charge the controller when not in use. Connecting the controller to the PS5 via the charge cable and lock will also allow you to disable the PS button, which should be a welcome addition for fighting fans who’ll no longer have to worry about accidentally hitting it and disrupting their matches.
After spending a few hours with Sony's DualSense Edge, my initial concerns over spending more for a luxury controller have largely disappeared. It’s a very well-designed controller with a lot of potential for people who want to customize their controls from top to bottom. It is still a steep ask at 200 dollars (I mean, it's half the price of the digital-only PS5) which may prevent the average user from becoming an early adopter. Still, it’s poised to be special for those who want a premium controller for their PS5. The DualSense Edge will be released on January 26th, 2023, for $200 USD (£210, $340 AUD).
Jada Griffin is IGN's Community Lead. If she's not engaging with users here, chances are she's developing her own games, maxing the Luck stat in her favorite games, or challenging her D&D players with Intense combat or masterful puzzles. You can follow her on Twitter @Jada_Rina.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/playstation-dualsense-edge-the-first-hands-on