DualSense Edge Review: Cutting-Edge Comes at a Cost

When the PlayStation 5 was launched in November 2020, maybe the perfect little bit of innovation that it launched was the brand new DualSense controller. An entire departure from its predecessor, the DualShock 4, Sony’s new controller featured improved haptics, adaptive set off capabilities, a extra ergonomic design, and a much-needed USB Sort-C port. Whereas Microsoft caught with a nearly unchanged controller for its Xbox Sequence S/X consoles, the DualSense embodied all the pieces that was “next-gen” concerning the PS5, handing Sony a slight benefit within the console wars. Xbox does supply its personal Elite Sequence 2 controller, one which has confirmed its high quality within the professional controller area that Sony is probably going attempting to check with its new product.

That new product is the DualSense Edge, Sony’s extra customizable, extra decked-out model to rival professional-grade gaming controllers. At its core, the DualSense Edge, launched globally on January 26, retains the DNA of the DualSense. In the event you’re not paying shut consideration, you could possibly be forgiven for mistaking it for the default PS5 controller at first look. The DualSense Edge presents acquainted aesthetics and textures and is constructed within the mildew of the DualSense. It’s barely heavier (roughly 325g in opposition to the DualSense’s 281g) and is available in a dual-tone white-and-black end, consistent with the PS5’s colour scheme. On the floor, there are some visible variations. The D-pad and face buttons and are stuffed in black, as an alternative of the clear ones on its lesser sibling. The touchpad on the high is black too, with the long-lasting PlayStation Sq., Triangle, Circle, and X symbols embossed as a delicate element. Lastly, there are two new Perform buttons protruding, proper beneath the 2 thumbsticks.

There’s much more occurring, most of it on the rear of the controller. There is a launch change in the back of the DualSense Edge that pops off the entrance cowl that encloses the left and proper sticks, each of that are swappable. A lever subsequent to every stick module, which, when raised, separates it from the controller. This lets you substitute the thumbsticks with new ones, which Sony now sells individually, in case of a malfunction or stick drift. The again of the controller additionally has two slots for mappable again buttons supplying you with extra performance and enter. You may discover two switches on the top-rear to regulate between three set off depths.

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The DualSense (left) and the DualSense Edge, facet by facet

What’s within the field

The DualSense Edge comes with quite a lot of parts and equipment, all neatly packaged in a premium hardshell carrying case that appears to be made from the identical white plastic used for the controller itself. If first impressions are essential to you, this packaging is as neat because it comes. Other than the controller itself, the case features a braided USB Sort-C cable and a nifty little connector housing that serves as a locking mechanism to forestall unintentional disconnections throughout wired gaming classes.

You get a powerful array of stick choices; The controller comes loaded with the default commonplace caps, like those current on the DualSense, in addition to two units of high-dome and low-dome caps, providing two totally different peak settings for each the left and the precise stick. These extra caps have convex textured rubber ends, which truly really feel nice whereas gaming. The taller stick caps are supposed to allow you to execute faster, extra fine-grained actions, whereas the shorter ones permit for extra purposeful, measured enter.

The DualSense Edge wi-fi controller is available in a slick bundle.

Past that, there are extra again buttons to select from: two-half dome ones and two lever ones, each of which latch on to the again of the DualSense Edge magnetically. These supply very totally different tactile feels, with the previous extra clicky and stubby, and the latter extra ergonomic and simpler to control subtly. The selection of which to make use of comes all the way down to your desire and what every sport advantages from. I discovered the lever again buttons a bit extra intuitive even when they led to extra unintentional inputs from my fingers resting on the again of the controller.

These equipment convey an additional ‘edge’ to the DualSense, including a wholesome quantity of customisability to the controller. It isn’t industry-leading, although. Many “professional” controllers supply 4 mappable again buttons versus the DualSense Edge’s two. The Xbox Elite Sequence 2 controller even has a swappable D-pad. It does really feel as if Sony stopped wanting going all out, maybe to maintain the controller accessible to a bigger gaming viewers as an alternative of marking it out for professionals.

The carrying case, which holds the controller and all its bells and whistles, is itself maybe essentially the most enticing accent right here. As somebody who typically travels with my DualSense controller and struggles to pack it securely, this hardshell case is a blessing. The truth that it seems as slick and premium because it does is a bonus, too.

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The DualShock 4 (high left), the DualSense (backside left), and the DualSense Edge — PlayStation controllers although the ages

Function creature

The DualSense Edge’s most unusual and sensible design function is its replaceable stick modules. As talked about earlier, the controllers’ left and proper sticks can simply be taken out, interchanged, and changed with stick modules bought individually. PlayStation controllers have turn into well-known for creating stick drift over time. The suitable stick alone DualSense that got here bundled with my PS5 began drifting in a 12 months or so, and I had to purchase an entire new controller to play with out hindrance. That’s an costly repair for an annoying downside. In fact, not drifting in any respect would have been best, however giving customers a technique to substitute drifting sticks cheaply is probably the second-best resolution.

PS5 system software program replace model 22.02-06.50.00 rolled out final month, including help for the brand new controller. So, while you join the DualSense Edge to a PS5 with a USB Sort-C cable for the primary time, you may see a useful welcome display that guides you thru the fundamentals. Within the Equipment part of PS5 Settings, you may discover a devoted and detailed web page for the DualSense Edge controller. Right here you possibly can create customized profiles, change settings for profile switching and the Perform button menu, alter the brightness of the LED indicators on the controller, replace its firmware, and reset it to its manufacturing facility settings.

DualSense Edge helps you to remap inputs for all of its buttons
Photograph Credit score: Screenshot/ Manas Mitul

The DualSense Edge helps as much as 4 customized profiles, every similar to a desired set of button assignments, stick and set off sensitivities and deadzones, and vibration and set off impact intensities. The button assignments part helps you to utterly remap enter on all the standard controller buttons and the 2 new again button slots. The again buttons could be set to set off any conventional single-button operate, however the truth that you possibly can’t map button combos looks like a missed trick.

You’ll be able to alter the sensitivity of the left and proper sticks and their deadzones individually. Right here, you do have freedom to experiment; You might set your left stick sensitivity utilizing the Regular curve for constant motion enter in your motion video games, and alter the precise stick sensitivity to Fast for snappy aiming. When you’re performed customizing a profile, you possibly can assign it to a shortcut, accessed on the fly by way of the 2 new Perform buttons on the controller. This Perform menu could be pulled up at any time, in-game or on the PS5 house display, by holding down both of them. This fashion, you possibly can simply change between profiles, alter headphone quantity, and rebalance sport/chat audio at any level.

The settings menu options a number of customization choices for stick sensitivity and deadzone.
Photograph Credit score: Screenshot/ Manas Mitul

Gaming on the Edge

I took the brand new “professional” DualSense Edge for a discipline take a look at over the past week, taking part in a variety of video games on the PS5. In Hogwarts Legacy, I set the precise set off to its shortest size for a snappier button-like really feel with spell assaults. Mapping the left persist with Regular sensitivity for easy motion and the precise persist with Exact for extra correct aiming offered the perfect steadiness. Primarily based on my expertise, these settings can be best for any third-person motion/journey title. I additionally mapped the left D-pad enter to a again button, so I might rapidly scan my atmosphere with out taking my thumb off the left stick.

In Like a Dragon: Ishin!, I discovered mapping the Triangle enter to the precise again button was essentially the most pure resolution to a minor impediment offered by the default PS5 controller — this button triggers a finisher assault within the sport, however with an everyday controller. , you all the time need to take your thumb off the precise stick proper within the warmth of battle to press it, thus shedding management of the digicam. A again button offered an ideal mapping alternative on this case. In an arcade/sports activities sport akin to Rocket League, mapping the again buttons to inputs for velocity enhance and soar was my most popular technique to go.

You’ll be able to change between customized controller profiles on the fly utilizing the Perform buttons.
Photograph Credit score: Screenshot/ Manas Mitul

The place the DualSense Edge actually shines is in first-person shooters. For a frenetic battle royale sport akin to Name of Responsibility: Warzone 2.0, I set each triggers to their shortest lengths, giving me a hair-trigger really feel for fast aiming down sights and taking pictures. I additionally set the precise stick sensitivity to Exact for extra correct and constant aiming. You might additionally go for the Fast setting within the extra frantic Deathmatch and Hardpoint multiplayer modes in the primary sport. Moreover, I assigned the Circle button (for crouching) to the precise again button and Sq. (for interacting) to the left one, permitting me to have each my thumbs glued to the 2 sticks. In multiplayer FPS titles, the place a second misplaced might imply dying, this might give gamers a good benefit.

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Verdict

Sony’s new controller guarantees appreciable upgrades over the already stellar DualSense, and it delivers on most of them. There are some downsides, although. With its host of recent parts taking on extra bodily area, the battery capability of the DualSense Edge has taken successful. Whereas Sony hasn’t offered specifics, in my testing the Edge lasted about 4 to 5 hours on a single full cost — a substantial downgrade from the DualSense, which has been giving me seven to eight hours of battery life (relying on the sport) on common.

I additionally want that Sony had taken an even bigger leap with the aesthetic design of the DualSense Edge, to set it other than its sibling. In its sole white-and-black colourway, the controller seems a bit too just like the DualSense. Whereas there isn’t any official phrase from Sony but, we will anticipate different colour choices and particular editions to reach sooner or later, identical to they did for the usual controller.

Then, there’s the associated fee. The DualSense Edge is available in at an eye-watering retail value of Rs. 18,990 in India, over 3 times the worth of the common DualSense controller, which you’ll decide up for Rs. 5,590. And whereas all the pieces that comes with the brand new controller will come as an improve for many, it is going to possible not symbolize nice worth for a lot of.

As an entire bundle, with its military of equipment and the useful carrying case, the DualSense Edge establishes itself because the alpha amongst PlayStation controllers. It does really feel prefer it suits in its spot on the high of an iconic line of gaming controllers, nevertheless it stops wanting scaling a dramatic new peak. In comparison with previous-gen consoles’ controllers, it seems like the long run, however subsequent to the DualSense, which continues to be among the finest wi-fi controllers available on the market proper now, Sony’s new providing loses only a little bit of its edge.

Professionals

• Wonderful customization choices
• Premium carrying case and packaging
• Easy setup with PS5
• Replaceable stick modules

Cons

• Weaker battery life than commonplace DualSense
• Conservative design
• excessive value

Score (out of 10): 8

The DualSense Edge wi-fi controller was launched on January 26 and is suitable with PS5, PC.