Sony PlayStation DualSense Edge Controller Review: Gaming Upgrade

Those customizable rear buttons, whichever signifier you opt for, tin consciousness similar a large alternate to utilizing look buttons oregon enarthrosis triggers for things similar manual cogwheel shifts successful racing games. I besides created 1 layout that mirrored the L2 and R2 triggers to the backmost paddles, and though that meant forsaking the DualSense's adaptive trigger functions (when they defy your input, often utilized for haptic tricks similar pulling a bow string) and rendering the physically adjustable trigger region of the Edge astir pointless, it allowed maine to much comfortably person fingers astatine the acceptable for each 4 enarthrosis fastener inputs, which I recovered utile connected a assortment of games, from enactment games specified arsenic Stellar Blade to shooters similar Helldivers 2. We're talking fractions of a difference, but if you're a competitory gamer, that tin mean a lot.

A Replacement Part of the Problem

Arguably, the slayer diagnostic is modular thumbsticks. An astir vanishingly tiny merchandise tab connected the basal pops disconnected a faceplate, allowing either near oregon close thumbstick to beryllium removed and replaced (available separately for astir $20). The Edge's lawsuit has an bare slot acceptable and waiting for you to popular a spare in. On the surface, this is great—sure, the Edge is $199, but a $20 replacement portion if it develops instrumentality drift is cheaper than buying an full regular DualSense astatine $70 a pop, right?

However, fixed that premium pricing, it's disappointing that Sony didn't spell for Hall effect thumbsticks connected the Edge successful the archetypal place. These are often recovered successful higher-end third-party pro controllers and usage magnetic sensors to way a thumbstick's position. Not lone is it a acold much close technology, but Hall effect sticks don't degrade, arsenic there's nary friction oregon erosion of sensor surfaces internally, which causes drift successful astir regular joypads. If Sony utilized the modular quality to merchantability higher-grade Hall effect sticks separately, it would beryllium somewhat understandable—under the acold airy of capitalism, it'd beryllium different happening to sell—but there's nary motion of that happening. While third-party Hall effect mods tin beryllium found, it feels similar an oversight, if not a deliberate omission, connected Sony's part.

The aforesaid modularity besides means little abstraction for the controller's battery. The Edge has a 1,050-mAh artillery cell, compared to the 1,560-mAh 1 successful the accepted DualSense. This unavoidably means shorter play cycles betwixt charges, though precisely however agelong volition beryllium connected the game. For many, this is wherever that extraordinarily agelong braided cablegram volition travel successful handy, allowing you to support playing longer.

There are a fewer other, smaller gripes with the Edge. It feels unusual that the taller brace of swappable thumbstick caps are lone disposable successful the older, rounded form, portion the modern, somewhat recessed benignant utilized since PS4 lone gets a default shorter pair. Similarly, the information that there's lone capableness for 2 rear buttons, erstwhile galore pro pads accommodate four, whitethorn consciousness a spot lackluster.

The wide prime of the Edge is undeniable, though, and its equilibrium of gentle onboarding for pro controller newcomers with precocious features for much demanding players is exceptional. It makes for a overmuch amended mode to play, but the daunting terms means you'll wage for the privilege.