A excessive finish premium controller has lengthy been lacking in Ps 5’s accent line up contemplating the Xbox is already on its second era of elite controllers. At $200, the DualSense Edge must ship rather a lot, and it does for a sure sort of gamer.
The Edge does a superb job of retaining the DualSense design, whereas including a boatload of customization with modular thumbsticks, adjustable depth triggers, again paddles and software program customization. However in the event you’re not a aggressive gamer, I’m undecided if the advantages outweigh the upper price.
What’s within the field
Whenever you unpack the DuelSense Edge you’ll discover:
- DualSense Edge controller
- Braided USB-C cable
- 2x lever again paddles
- 2x half dome again paddles
- 2x commonplace thumb stick caps
- 2x excessive dome thumb stick caps
- 2x low dome thumb stick caps
- Locking connector attachment
- Carrying case
- Guide/guarantee doc
A revamped thumbstick system
The DualSense Edge has replaceable sticks that permit you to swap a brand new joystick module with out the necessity of instruments. That is essential for avid gamers who’s controller are inclined to develop stick drift. For those who ever discover your controller not behaving, a swap to a contemporary joystick module will solely price $20.
At this value level, I hoped for the sticks to make use of Corridor Impact sensors, eliminating the danger of stick drift altogether. The core module feels the identical as a inventory DualSense controller, however I think about third events can have their very own choices that may add distinctive facets like extra resistance, or Corridor Impact sensors.
The DualSense additionally options detachable stick caps, marking the return of the old fashioned convex form at two totally different heights. The convex shapes are immediately recognizable and really feel just like the Twin Shock thumbsticks, although I feel the fashionable form is healthier. The variable top is welcome for gamers who discover the shorter top a bit of cramped. We may even probably see a ton of third half assist for cap sticks.
A software program function would possibly simply be the largest improve on this controller. The Edge lets you set your stick sensitivity to go well with the sport you’re taking part in. Listed below are all of the modes:
- Default: Linear curve
- Fast: Accelerates to full tilt rapidly, which is likely to be higher fitted to twitchy video games and flick aiming
- Exact: A slower ramp as much as full tilt, actually good for micro changes and sniping
- Regular: Will make the preliminary ramp up fairly gradual to make sure easy motion
- Digital: Removes any ramp up, 0 to 100 immediately.
- Dynamic: Offers you a gradual purpose within the center vary of the stick, however a whole lot of tilt whenever you absolutely push, permitting you to have a superb mixture of purpose steadiness and switch pace.
Stick sensitivity could be set individually to every stick so your transfer and purpose sticks can have their very own settings. The Edge additionally permits for tweaking of your curve to essentially provide you with as a lot management over your thumb stick as doable.
Every setting is then tied to a profile, so you might swap to Dynamic for a BR like Fortnite, then to Fast for Overwatch. Even having totally different sensitivities for sniping, mid vary and run and gun could be helpful to have.
The controller additionally helps you to set deadzone, however it is best to set this to 0, until you’re getting stick drift, then flip the organising or get a alternative stick.
Buttons
Sony has lastly caught up and added again pedal buttons onto the DualSense Edge. However even now, it solely has two when different high-end controllers function 4. There are two again paddle sorts that include the DualSense Edge, the lever sort and the half dome. I’m liking the texture of the half dome, because it appears to be much less in the way in which if I’m gripping the controller a bit of too tightly.
Putting in the pack pedals is straightforward, they solely slot in a method and require a superb quantity of wiggling out to dislodge, so I don’t suppose there’s any fear of them getting dislodged by chance.
The paddles are product of metallic and really feel prime quality. The again paddles could be re-mapped to every other single button press, sadly no means to do combo presses or macros. C’mon Sony!
Beneath the left and proper thumbsticks you’ll discover a triangle formed Fn button, that is the button that lets you fast swap profiles and regulate quantity on the fly. There are two of those buttons, however they each do the identical factor, it might be cool in the event you might select to remap these buttons as effectively.
Whenever you maintain down the Fn button, a fast menu pops up permitting you to set your profile. Or you possibly can rapidly press Fn and a face button to rapidly swap with none pop ups in any respect.
The remainder of the buttons really feel the identical, the first face buttons at the moment are colour-inverted. Apart from that, all of the buttons really feel and behave the identical because the inventory DualSense.
Adjustable set off depths
The Sony Ps DualSense Edge options adjustable depth triggers, permitting for the R2 and L2 buttons to backside out and actuate earlier.
A shorter set off is useful for video games that don’t have to make use of the triggers analog performance. Gamers in video games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, Overwatch and different aggressive shooters will profit by having a extra responsive scope and set off button.
The underside out on the shallower heights really feel and sound dangerous. There isn’t the strong backside out feeling at full top, it feels just like the set off is hitting one thing much less sturdy.
The triggers have additionally gained a dotted grip texture on the ends of the triggers. I’m attempting to think about one other class of sport that may profit from the shorter triggers exterior of FPS video games. For avid gamers trying to get an edge in shooters, I feel it is a large profit for set off pace. However every other sport, I’m taking the conventional depth simply to keep away from the unusual backside out.
Seamless software program
Software program is seamless in the event you’re on the newest PS5 replace, your PS5 will immediately acknowledge your DualSense Edge and provoke first arrange and tutorial. The software program expertise is absolutely intuitive and helpful. The Fn button could be activated in any sport, holding to point out the short menu or pairing with a face button to a fast profile swap.
Within the fast menu, you possibly can regulate your sport and chat quantity, choose a profile and even depart the sport to edit your profile settings.
Smaller form & design
The DualSense Edge is smaller than the unique DualSense in width and top.
The distinction is delicate however noticeable, I’d guess that the Edge is a extra snug grip for many palms. Bigger handed avid gamers may need to move on the Edge if the common Twin Sense was already feeling cramped.
Any type of mounts or holders ought to work for both controller.
Sony seen how a lot everybody beloved the hidden sample on the again of the unique DualSense, in order that they introduced a sample to the touchpad as effectively. On the prime, the touchpad is extra squared off, whereas the unique touchpad had a mild curve.
The one different notable design change was the blacking out of the d-pad and face buttons. The Edge nonetheless simply recognizable as a DualSense controller.
The controller nonetheless works effectively with the official charging dock.
Battery life
Unhealthy information, the battery on the DualSense Edge is rather a lot smaller than the unique. The DualSense Edge has a 1050 mAh battery in comparison with the originals 1560 mAh battery. It does look like the controller is lasting roughly one third lower than the unique.
I assume the low battery life is why they’re emphasizing this cable lock to verify your controller stays related and charged. I’m probably not positive what the use case is for this lock, the USB-C cable stays within the controller fairly effectively below regular circumstances.
The Case
The case will match every thing it’s essential carry along with your DualSense Edge. The case has a tough outer shell, every thing matches snugly as soon as zipped up, I’m fairly assured in its protecting means. It even has a bit of door for charging!
Construct high quality
I’m comfortable to report that the construct high quality feels nice even with all of the modular items. Thumb sticks nonetheless appear agency and the triggers really feel like they’d at full depth.
I’ve some concern in regards to the longevity of the shorter stops on the triggers sporting down a bit.
Apart from that, the physique of the controller feels as strong as the unique DualSense.
PC Assist
PC assist out of the field for the DualSense isn’t nice. You want a PS5 to have the ability to assign again paddle buttons and different settings. It should hook up with a PC over Bluetooth nice, however you gained’t have the ability to reap the benefits of a whole lot of the brand new options and not using a PS5.
You may get DSX on Steam to allow again paddles together with different options. I’d nonetheless advocate an Xbox controller PC Video games.
Steam Deck Assist
The Steam Deck absolutely assist the Edge’s again paddles and performance buttons, permitting remapping. The DualSense is already one of many prime selections for the Steam Deck with its useful touchpad, gyro and adaptive triggers for Sony video games.
Conclusion
The DualSense Edge actually is made for the aggressive taking pictures gamer in thoughts. The thumb stick changes will permit much more flexibility in playstyle and lessons for shooters. In different video games, I’m not so positive. The adjustable triggers will provide you with a fast draw benefit over plebes utilizing common controllers.
The software program expertise can be nice for this use case, switching from an M4 to an SP-X 80 could be paired with a fast profile swap to provide you a extra exact purpose.
The controller can be extra accessible, with two again buttons that may be remapped to something permitting for extra sorts of grips.
For everybody else, the $200 value level isn’t actually value, particularly contemplating the discount in battery life. Even when the thumbsticks die in your authentic DualSense, you should purchase at the very least 3 controllers earlier than matching the value level of the DualSense Edge.
