Sony has quietly raised the price of the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller worldwide, bringing noticeable changes to how gamers interact with their beloved console. This price hike, which amounts to $5 for standard colors and $10 for premium shades, took place without any formal announcement. Retailers, including major ones like Amazon, Best Buy, and official Sony stores, have updated their prices accordingly.
For example, the standard DualSense colors, including White, Black, and Violet Red, now list for S$107 (Singapore dollars), with the Premium colors like Neon Blue and Silver ringing up at S$114.
This escalation marks the latest development in the continuing saga of Sony’s price adjustments, which earlier this month saw the PlayStation 5 and its accessories experiencing similar increases, particularly citing economic challenges and fluctuations.
The price shift coincided with the highly awaited technical presentation livestream by PlayStation's lead architect, Mark Cerny, on September 10, 2024, hinting toward the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro — another aspect gamers are eagerly awaiting.
According to Sony, the rise is attributed to “the rising cost of production.” This explanation seems fair on the surface. After all, many industries are feeling the pinch of increasing manufacturing expenses. But it raises questions and highlights nagging issues for PS5 users, particularly concerning controller compatibility and the overall gaming experience.
One of the major complaints from users revolves around the lack of DualShock 4 support for PS5 games. Technically, players can use their DualShock 4 controllers on the PS5, but only when playing PS4 games. When it’s time to jump onto the latest PS5 adventures? Absolutely not.
Gamers find this frustrating, especially considering the DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers bear many similarities—they have equivalent button layouts and control schemes. The only notable feature difference may be the DualSense's advanced haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, features which many argue are not absolutely necessary for gameplay.
The DualSense controller does boast features like linear rumble motors and adaptive triggers, which supposedly offer enhanced immersion during gameplay. But as it stands, players have the option to turn these features off entirely, thereby nullifying the very reasons Sony has cited for preventing DualShock 4 usage on PS5 games.
"PS5 games are ‘designed to take advantage of its immersive new features.’" Yet this poses significant accessibility issues for many gamers. Not every player finds the DualSense ergonomic enough; for some, the DualShock 4 is far more comfortable and, for those with specific needs, might be their only means of play.
This inconsistency extends beyond just individual controller preferences. Sony’s approach to controller compatibility affects various dedicated accessibility features too. Custom controllers and third-party alternatives widely used for PS4 are no longer usable for PS5 games, cluttering the paths toward gaming inclusivity and accessibility.
