If there’s one secret weapon the PS5 has up its sleeve, it’s the DualSense. Many reviewers have pointed to the DualSense as the element that really makes the console feel next-gen; its responsive triggers and haptic feedback are more immersive than any controller has ever been before, making you feel like you’re truly in the middle of the action.
Of course, the DualSense can always be iterated on, and that’s why we now have the DualSense Edge, a brand new controller introduced by Sony last month. The Edge is designed to “give you an edge” in your gaming (see what they did there?), and it’s all about customisation. Here are some of the things you need to know about the DualSense Edge controller.
It doesn’t have a launch date or a price yet
First, let’s get the bad news out of the way: we still don’t know when the DualSense Edge will actually be launching. Sony says it’s going to share more information about the controller “in the months ahead”, so it could be some time before we actually get a release date for it. If you’re looking forward to getting your hands on this one, you might want to temper your expectations, because it might not even be ready in time for Christmas 2022 (although we very much hope it is).
Price-wise, we don’t really know what to expect from the DualSense Edge yet. Naturally, it’ll likely cost more than the standard DualSense; this is a premium controller that Sony is selling as a “pro” option, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it exceeded the £100 mark. We’ll have to wait and see, though.
You can customise pretty much everything
The big watchword for the DualSense Edge is customisation. There’s almost nothing on this controller you can’t customise; you can remap each button input according to what you want, and you can also adjust stick dead zone and sensitivity, so if your DualSense Edge does start to drift (which is a common problem in the controller world right now), you’ve got options.
Triggers can also be adjusted; you can change trigger dead zone and travel distance, so if you’re finding the triggers uncomfortable to use, you can change how they work. Sony gives the examples of adjusting travel distance for more precise control in an FPS or racing game, so it’s clear the company is pitching this controller to competitive players rather than casual ones.
Sticks and back buttons are swappable
The DualSense Edge comes with back buttons, and you can swap out the type of buttons on the controller, giving you more control over what you’re doing. Sony says that half-dome and lever options will be available for the DualSense Edge, so whichever one you prefer, you’ll have the choice to change it if you want. It’s clear Sony wants to make sure the DualSense Edge is the only PS5 controller you want to use.
As well as the back buttons, you can also swap out the stick caps, elevating them if you prefer more precise control over your movement and over game cameras. Higher stick caps have been a staple for many extra peripheral options over the years, so it’s nice to see Sony incorporating this option into an official controller; it shows the company is growing alongside its audience.
Stick caps can be replaced
In another concession to players who like to self-repair their controllers (kind of), Sony has also revealed that the stick caps on the DualSense Edge can be replaced. This means that if your stick caps start to wear down, as has been the case historically with both PS4 and PS5 controllers, you’ll be able to swap them out for new ones, and you won’t need to open up the controller to do so either.
There will be multiple profiles
Sony says the DualSense Edge will allow you to swap between several profiles that you can set up. For example, you can set up a profile for God of War Ragnarok that corresponds to that game’s specific control scheme, then swap your profile for one that’s more geared towards esports gaming. This should enable you to adjust your gaming experience based on what you’re currently playing, which is good.
There will also be a dedicated button on the controller for swapping between profiles. Sony’s calling it the “Fn” button, and it’ll let you switch your profile, change the audio balance between in-game sound and chat, and also let you enter the profile menu so you can make more detailed adjustments and fine-tune your settings.
It’s a DualSense
Of course, as well as all of these new features, the DualSense Edge is, well, a DualSense. It’ll work in exactly the same way as a standard DualSense controller does, so you’ll be able to use it with every game and system that’s compatible with the DualSense. Naturally, that means you can use it with the PS5, but it’s also presumably usable with PC, so you won’t need to swap over when you’re gaming on your desktop.
It comes with accessories
The DualSense Edge will also come complete with two rather nifty accessories. The first is a braided USB-C cable that has a locking connector, so it won’t get yanked out of your controller if you’re using it while charging (don’t worry, though; the controller can obviously still be used wirelessly).
You’ll also get a carrying case with your DualSense Edge, so you can store it away when you’re not using it and keep it safe from dust and other blemishes. You can even charge the DualSense Edge while it’s being kept in the case, which is a cool little feature that we’re excited to use!