The next-generation of video game controllers are now out in the wild in terms of written form, thanks to Microsoft and Sony’s recent unveiling articles. Although the two aren’t out physically, which won’t happen until Q4 2020, folks interested in the Xbox Series X controller and the PS5’s DualSense can examine the current info on the two right here.
Firstly, the following information on the two next-gen controllers comes from their respective sources, which are blog.us.playstation.com and news.xbox.com.
Furthermore, the two controllers have cut down on size and weight to become more “inclusive.” In other words, these new “ergonomic” controllers aren’t designed specifically for male hands, but for females, children, and other “diverse” hand shapes.
The above information is further elaborated on by the recent Sony piece on the DualSense controller as relayed below:
“DualSense has been tested by a wide range of gamers with a variety of hand sizes, in order for us to achieve the comfort level we wanted, with great ergonomics. Our goal with DualSense is to give gamers the feeling of being transported into the game world as soon as they open the box. We want gamers to feel like the controller is an extension of themselves when they’re playing – so much so that they forget that it’s even in their hands!”
The Xbox write-up on the Xbox Series X Controller rings a similar tone too:
“Being more inclusive is part of the design process from the very beginning. That’s true for everything we make at Xbox. Whether we’re redesigning our standard controller or inventing a completely new one, like the Adaptive Controller, we ask ourselves and gamers, “How can we make gaming a better experience for everyone?” By listening to gamers and observing how people of all backgrounds and abilities play, we continue to learn more and find areas we can improve.”
With that said, let’s get into the buttons and ports of the two controllers.
PS5 DualSense Controller
The DualSense features the standard directional buttons as seen on previous PlayStation controllers, as well as the return of the L1/R1 and L2/R2 buttons. The recent article by Sony also touches on the “Create” button as well as Haptic Feedback, Adaptive Triggers, the repositioned Light Bar, and the rechargeable battery pack.
You can read over more buttons and ports on the DualSense controller below:
- Directional Buttons
- L1 and R1 Buttons
- L2 and R2 Buttons
- TouchPad
- Options Button
- Create Button
- Mute Button (underneath the PS logo)
- Audio Jack for Headphones
- Dotted Speaker Holes for Voice Chat
- Haptic Feedback
- Adaptive triggers
- USB-C Port
- Light Bar
- Rechargeable Battery
- Triangle, Square, Circle, X Face Buttons
Xbox Series X Wireless Controller
As for the Xbox Series X controller, it now boasts a curved digital-pad. The next-gen controller also has dotted tactile bumpers and triggers, a “Share” button, expansion ports for chargers and other accessories, and more.
You can read over everything currently announced for the Xbox Series X wireless controller right here:
- Concave/Curved Digital-Pad
- Dotted Tactile Right and Left Bumpers
- Dotted Tactile Right and Left Triggers
- Start Button
- Menu Button
- Share Button
- Expansion Ports (for Charger kit and Xbox Chat Headset)
- Wireless Pairing Sync Button
- Micro-UBS Port
- 3.5mm Jack
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Double-A Batteries (compatible with charging banks/rechargeable batteries)
- A, B, X, Y Face Buttons
Both companies (Sony and Microsoft) made mention that more info on their controllers will come forth leading up to the PS5 and Xbox Series X release. Until then, you can learn more about these controllers by hitting up blog.us.playstation.com and news.xbox.com.
