There’s nothing quite like inviting a few friends over for a multiplayer gaming session. Whether you’re indulging in the joys of a competitive fighting game or teaming up to take on some dungeons in an RPG together, gaming becomes exponentially better the more players you add, especially when it comes to games specifically designed for multiple players to enjoy. The world of couch play was neglected for a long time thanks to the advent of online gaming, but it’s arguably coming back in a big way now.
That being the case, you may want to know what your options are when it comes to connecting DualSense controllers to your PS5. After all, since the technology is wireless and not hampered by peripherals like the old-school PS2 Multitap, then the possibilities must be endless, right? Well…not quite, unfortunately. Here’s our guide on how many DualSense controllers you can connect, how to connect them, and what other options you might have.
How many DualSense controllers can you connect to PS5?
According to the official PlayStation 5 FAQ, you can connect up to four DualSense controllers to your PS5 simultaneously. That’s right – you can still only connect as many controllers to your console as you could back in the old Multitap days. Although we love our PS5s, we’re a little disappointed that Sony didn’t include the chance to connect more controllers at once to the machine; it would have been great to enjoy bigger and more chaotic multiplayer experiences with more of our friends.
So, why can you only connect four controllers to the PS5? Well, the chances are that engineering the console to support more than this would be considered a waste of time by Sony, as there likely aren’t many instances in which more than four players would want to play a game together locally. In addition, most games don’t support more than 4 players in multiplayer, often for technical reasons. It’s understandable, but it’s still just a tad vexing.
How to connect extra DualSense controllers
If you’ve only got one DualSense controller hooked up to your PS5 right now and you want to know how to connect more, don’t worry – we’ve got your back. Here’s how to connect additional DualSense controllers.
- Use a USB cable. Your PS5 likely came with a USB-C cable to facilitate charging and connection for your controller. The quickest and best way to hook up additional DualSense controllers is to use this cable; simply connect one end to your console and the other to your controller, then press the PlayStation button. You should see the controller’s player indicator – that is to say, the colour of the light bar either side of the touchpad – light up. Voila! Your controller is connected.
- Connect wirelessly. The procedure for connecting a DualSense controller wirelessly is just a little bit more complicated than hooking it up via cable. Still, it’s not too difficult, and you should be able to manage it without issue, although you will need a controller that’s already hooked up to the console. To hook your controller up wirelessly, head to the Bluetooth Accessories menu in your PS5 (you can find it under Settings, then Accessories, then General). Press and hold your Create and PlayStation buttons on the DualSense that isn’t paired, then select the new controller using a DualSense that’s already paired.
Can you use multiple PS4 controllers on PS5?
You may already be aware that the PS5 supports DualShock 4 controllers as well as DualSense peripherals. It’s true, but there are a couple of caveats. For one thing, you can’t use DualShock 4 controllers to play PS5 games; they’re only compatible with PS4 games. This means that if you’re playing a multiplayer game and you want some extra controllers for your friends, you won’t be able to use PS4 controllers unless you’re playing a PS4 game.
If you do happen to be enjoying a multiplayer PS4 game on your PS5 and want to know how to connect extra DualShock 4 controllers, here’s how to do it.
- Connect your DualShock 4 via USB. Just like the DualSense, your DualShock 4 can connect to your PS5 using a USB cable. However, you need to be aware that the PS5’s USB-C cable won’t be compatible with the DualShock 4; the PS4 controller uses the older Micro USB standard, so be sure you’ve got a Micro USB cable to hand. When you have, just hook up the controller via that cable, then press the PlayStation button. You should see the controller begin to flash, then connect to your system.
- Connect your DualShock 4 wirelessly. If you don’t have a cable to hand or aren’t able to use one for whatever reason, you can also connect the DualShock 4 to your PS5 wirelessly. You can do this by heading to the same Bluetooth menu that you accessed for the DualSense – head to Settings, then Accessories, then General. From there, you should see Bluetooth Accessories. Press and hold the Share and PS buttons on your DualShock 4, and your controller will begin to blink. Select the new controller in the PS5’s menu and it should be connected.
Conclusion
It’s a shame that the PS5 doesn’t support more than four controllers, but that should still be enough for a few rounds of FIFA or any other multiplayer game you want to enjoy with your friends. We’re hoping Sony patches in the ability to play with more than four players in future, although we admit it doesn’t seem likely.