One of the most exciting next-generation innovations for Sony’s PS5 is the DualSense controller. Its haptic feedback system and adaptive triggers can be fine-tuned by developers for a variety of purposes to make actions feel more realistic, and the controller has been largely praised by those who have used it. Xbox boss Phil Spencer is among those who are excited by the DualSense.
He said in an interview with The Verge that he applauds Sony for the DualSense controller, and more widely how the company looked to the future and pushed further innovation with it.
“I applaud what they did with the controller, not actually for–well, I shouldn’t say not for the specifics of the controller, but more than just the specifics of the controller,” he said. “I think for all of us in the industry, we should learn from each other and the innovation that we all push on, whether it’s distribution of business model like Game Pass, or controller tech, or the Wii back in the day, which clearly had an impact on us when we went off and did Kinect and Sony did the Move.”
Spencer said he hopes other industry players will look at this new type of innovation and learn and grow from it.
He said he hopes the platform-holders will say, “‘Okay, what’s really going to break out and become a common part of a platform that developers and players are going to look for?’ Or, ‘What is more vertical around a specific scenario on a specific piece of hardware?’ We’re trying to be eyes open on that. For any technology, whether it’s a controller, or any VR, or anything else…”
In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the DualSense controller allows for weapons to feel distinct, and when you’re low on health, you can feel your heartbeat in your hands. Sony’s own PS5 launch title Astro’s Playroom uses the DualSense controller for a variety of exciting and unique purposes, and you can even blow into the controller to spin a fan.
More recently, we learned about the unique ways in which Bethesda’s Deathloop will use the DualSense, and it sounds very exciting.
It will indeed be very interesting to see how developers make use of the DualSense controller as time goes on.
