A Game Developer Explains How PS5's DualSense Actually Works

PS5's DualSense Wireless Controller is like nothing else. With its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, this is a controller that immerses players in game worlds like never before. But how does it work? We spoke to Toshimasa Aoki, Director of Product Management at Sony Interactive Entertainment and Mike Daly, Game Director at Insomniac Games, to find out.
PlayStation Access brings you the latest PlayStation news, features and gameplay every week, giving you unprecedented access to the biggest titles on PlayStation. Subscribe now to ensure you never miss out: bit.ly/AccessSub
All music featured courtesy of epidemicsound.com (www.epidemicsound.com)
We use AverMedia's live Gamer Pro for PS4 and PS5 capture and streaming.
Want more?
Ash's Twitter: / ashmillman
Rosie's Twitter: / rosiecaddick88
Rob's Twitter: bit.ly/RobPearson
Dave's Twitter: bit.ly/DavidJackson
Nath's Twitter: bit.ly/NathanDitum
Join us on Facebook: bit.ly/AccessFB
Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/TweetAccess
#PS5 #DualSense #Explained

[@lomaxxbr]

Believe me: you can't imagine how good the Dualsense is until you play with it.

[@woutervanr]

One of the best things is how it feels in your hands now that it's finally shaped more like and xbox controller.

[@hoop6822]

Sounds great, I've just ordered my ps5 today and can't wait

[@braydentrefethen841]

When I first launched Astros playroom and I felt the triggers I just spent 20 min playing with them on step 2

[@iyeetsecurity922]

This is basically the line I used to pick up yo mama.

[@v1nigra3]

@@Sejuani89 seems you haven’t played games with dual sense feedback

[@bdre5555]

The delicate feeling raindrops in Astros playroom is really something to experience

[@telephones3]

Right? I was so impressed at that moment, when you feel the rain on your controller but not in an invasive or gimmicky way. After I finished the game and returned to Destiny 2, I was constantly imagining if the game also used this tool for immersion.

[@travisbickle01]

Facts

[@BIG_PASTA]

It's sweet that in Returnal you can feel the rain too - sometimes. Has anyone else experienced it just not working at random points when it does at other times in the same locations? Either way, I'm excited for what the future holds when it comes to haptics, it's a real game changer :)

[@Creeperdy]

The ice skating is also very cool

[@bdre5555]

It really is mind-blowing how amazing this controller is. It's literally impossible to explain the experience, until you play something like Astros play room for a few hours. There's nothing else like it on the market

[@FFTM155]

Exactly.👍

[@lambdafish291]

I explain it as "when you go to a concert and the sound is so loud that you can 'feel' the sound, that's what duelsense feels like, the raindrops that you hear, you feel that sound"

[@timothyrenzi6561]

there is, it's called "hd rumble" in the switch joycons, and it was made by the same company. unfortunately nintendo used it like 4 times then stopped bothering to care. they had a really cool minigame in 1-2-switch where you'd rattle the joycon around and try to guess the number of ball bearings in the "container" based on the feedback. i hope sony makes it more mainstream by virtue of PS popularity and actually gets buy in from 3rd party devs on it.

[@bdre5555]

@@timothyrenzi6561 this is a completely different tech and different level than the switch technology. This has been addressed many times. Again, you just don't get it until you play Astros playroom or Ratchet & Clank Rift apart or returnal

[@timothyrenzi6561]

@@bdre5555 haven't played returnal yet but I did beat rift apart already. Don't presume

[@cmsmithy1234]

I really love these deep dives you guys make occasionally. I’m guessing they’re harder to make but always love to hear from designers and developers.

[@danielclark-hughes692]

"Have the controller kind of disappear. We don't want players to think 'oh, I'm pushing a button.'" Great design philosophy

[@MegaCityGhost]

Exactly my thoughts. The purpose of any great controller should be to remove the barriers between the player and the game. To transform the chain of perception from "game-controller-hands-brain" into "game-brain".

[@rockutron9000]

Playing Astro's Playroom the first time is really mind blowing because you can feel minute sensations like rain drops and even the drag of Astro skating on ice. Then you have the more drastic feelings of springs coiling/uncoiling and the rumbling of jets. Definitely looking forward to the future of this tech.

[@mutalix]

I've been gaming since 16-bit days, the Dualsense is by far the best controller I've ever used.

[@FFTM155]

Same here.

[@woutervanr]

Ever tried the xbox pro controller?

[@wendellgreenidge3362]

@@woutervanr not the same

[@alphagames8737]

Facts

[@all-in9365]

@@woutervanr u obviously havent used the dual sense if u have to say that

[@jhonrock2386]

The vibration feature is really impressive. I was playing a MMO and as flying around with my mount, and when I bumped into a wall sideways, I could feel de vibration coming from the same side I bumped, and as I moved forward, the vibration also moved from the top to the botton of the controller, getting weaker as I got away from the wall. At least that was how I felt it. It was if the vibration became 3D, like how a surround sound work.

[@PrinceVinc]

Which MMO?

[@jhonrock2386]

@@PrinceVinc FFXIV

[@DanFarrell98]

Feeling the rats in a Plague Tale is both disgusting and awesome

[@luuketaylor]

I haven't started it yet, but oh god, I didn't know you could feel the rats...

[@Chekan89]

Of all PS5 games I have played, A Plague Tale has the best Dualsense functionality after Astro's Playroom. Then again... I haven't played Demon's Souls, Ratchet & Clank or Returnal yet 🤔

[@lukasisara3103]

And when that water mill(wheel) is turning around,you can feel it literally in Dualsense 😍 I hear new Ratchet uses it well too?

[@szabolcsnagy806]

Rob is frickin passionate about playin games and playstation. Those lines ..how he delivers them is just pure joy to listen to.

[@maximnewman2483]

I really love the dualsense features. Felt Ratchet and Clank did a good job of it. Curious as to how it will work in ghost of tsushima directors cut.

[@diegoestmar559]

The rumbling during the night club bit was amazing. felt like i was standing next to one of those big speakers

[@topooly]

Astro and Returnal are the best examples of DualSense function. Hopefully more and more games will learn from them and keep innovating. Right now a lot of devs are treating it as an afterthought; but in those cases where they've designed the game with DS in mind from the start, it makes a huge difference to the experience. Astro is still the most next-gen feeling game on the system.

[@LG1ikLx]

What about Rift Apart? 🤔😥 But yh I get what you mean. So many devs don't bother with it or they chuck 1 or 2 really basic uses of it where it just annoys you and your better of disabling it. Like cod vanguard they just made it so the trigger is harder to press so then firing guns just feels difficult for no reason.

[@MysticalReaper]

@@LG1ikLx or like Gta5 next gen version where these functions are just barley their just so Rockstar don't get sued over these features.

[@Howardsternclone69]

Don’t forget horizons forbidden west

[@guitarsimon1]

They should make it mandatory to play Astro’s Playroom to unlock the ability to play other games, what an amazing *experience* let alone game.

[@MichaelReznoR]

How would _you_ feel when someone forced you to do something that you may not want to do at all? I'm not sure if your comment is very thought-out and reasonable.

[@guitarsimon1]

@@MichaelReznoR Nope, I’m taking a hard line on this, Astro’s Playroom should be mandatory for ALL! I want it added to the school syllabus, I want people to learn, no, be INDOCTRINATED by how good this game is.

[@LG1ikLx]

@@MichaelReznoR If you don't want to play Astros playroom then you made the wrong choice in console...

[@thedestroyer5794]

@@LG1ikLx bro what? Just because someone wants a ps5 doesn’t mean they want to play that game bruh.

[@adambomb138]

@@MichaelReznoR Found the microflop fanboy lmao. What are you doing way out here?

[@victoriousf.i.g.3311]

I appreciate that you've explained this; as it's so difficult to get a PS5, this just builds anticipation for when I get my hands on one!

[@Rayno2601]

I was lucky enough to recently buy a ps5 here in SA. Even after watching videos where the controller was hyped up, the feeling of first using it in Astro's Playroom still blew me away. Hope you can get your hands on one soon.

[@victoriousf.i.g.3311]

Thanks to both of you for maintaining the hype; hope you have the most wonderful day! I'll get there as soon as I can. To be a bit of a weeaboo and quote Naruto "Believe it!" Or, to quote an obscure Martin Lawrence film from the late 90s "Believe that!"

[@victoriousf.i.g.3311]

@@Danarchy3 Maybe I'll see you in line in 2035 🤣

[@uggZymoroon]

nothing can prepare you for it, it really is that good, the triggers alone.

[@andyespinozam]

Imagine if the DualSense was compatible with the PS4 (no haptics of course) but with the possibility to experience those apps they are now making in order to let you feel the HF with a gamplay trailer. I think Sony is loosing money.

[@edytking95]

It’s interesting that he mentions that controller is meant to feel like the player doesn’t have have controller in their hands because I feel that Dualsense has the opposite effect. Controllers have felt pretty similar for over a decade and most games generally use the same button layout. The fact that the DualSense mixes that samness up with the triggers and vibrations makes me more aware of the controller than ever. I think it’s great because it’s a positive change in gameplay where (for now atleast) I’m left thinking “that’s new”. I found the irony of the statement and my experience interesting

[@vigoroushero8623]

It's a damn good controller for sure. Just wish the battery lasted a bit longer though.

[@inkgraved]

how long is yours lasting? i'm finding mine lasts something like 4 times as long as the batteries on my old dual shocks

[@vigoroushero8623]

@@inkgraved I have two and everytime I run out of battery on one I switch to the other. I did this with my Dualshock 4's on PS4 and honestly I felt it took me over a week to switch with those than my dualsenses. I switch my dualsenses about every 3 to 4 days and I'm kinda shocked everytime the *low battery notification comes up.

[@thumperdumper8778]

I made mine longer with weaker lights and vibrations but kinda left the adaptive triggers on high n lastef longer then when i got it lol

[@shmookins]

I love interviews with devs like this. I hope there will be more in the future.

[@Harerazer]

I understand citing Ratchet and Astro but the best use of the controller for me is in Wreckfest. From the tires squeeling on the concrete out of the speaker to the brake and gas pedals failing after collisions, they really nailed it and the input/feedback took the game to another level.

[@onezerosevensix]

ive never agreed with somebody more in my entire life

[@valerian8063]

Exactly, the devs nailed it. Should be the standard in every racing game, imo. Some people argue, the dualsense features were too weak in Wreckfest and Dirt 5 did it better. Having played both games, I must say Dirt 5 doesn't offer fine tuned dualsense features, but Wreckfest does. I wonder how Gran Turismo 7 will do it.

[@TheWindii]

4:48 it's the taste. You really have to lick it to fully appreciate the expertise that went into that piece of technology.

[@shanehall75jamaicangamer12]

I can't wait to feel out the dualsence for myself 😭😭

[@GoodKingMort]

The firmware update portion of this was very interesting! I'm so excited to see how the Dualsense will be utilised in the future.

[@ThePokestopPapi]

I was susprisingly excited to hear about that myself as well

[@battlefieldclips7013]

What changed with the update? Coz I sold my PS5.

[@キラキラくりくり頭]

The very first moment of Astro, when things fly by, it feels like you can feel them fly past your hands accurately

[@SensaiGaia1]

Having just recently owned a PS5 I can't tell you enough in a paragraph how much i am impressed by Sony for designing such an immersive controller. Playing through Astro's Playroom made me feel even more amazed at what's to come in this generation of gaming. Feeling the rain was amazing, and the wind, feeling the controller's triggers stiffen as I try to press harder on them. Even just playing some Gran Turismo 7 felt like I was at the wheel with the triggers feeling like the accelerator of a car. I'm thoroughly impressed with Sony and have to admit I'm proud of being a playstation fan 😁

[@stevenallan5822]

Yeah, you don't just have a firmware update for the console, the controller has it too. Just an amazing machine and controller. Just sorted and rearranged my desk to stand it upright as it's so BIG, this will be my last console as I've been gaming since my mid teens and now in my early 50's and I can't wait to get my hands on future titles due out later this year and next year. Happy gaming everyone 👍🎮

[@krookedvulture]

Love these kinds of vids from Access

[@DhilipNexus]

Greatest controller. Can't wait to see how immersive it will be in future games.

[@Oppositesleeper]

Awesome background tech video. Access really is the best channel related to anything and everything playstation.

[@ethancodes7134]

The Dual Sense really is what truly sets the PS5 apart from the Xbox. I bought an Xbox this time around just for gamepass, but I don't touch it if I can help it because my PS5 controller feels so much better in my hands in every single way.

[@PeterParker-zm8yk]

The experience delivered by the ps5's controller will lead PS to victory again!

[@HatCHeTHaZ]

The PS5 version of A Plague Tale Innocence with the controller was creepy but cool at the same time. Felt like the rats were crawling all over it. Astro & Rift Apart were amazing too, its weird how it all works but its vastly impressive 😁

[@Eikon_FF]

This is an experience that will not be easily replicated by third party accessory makers for consoles

[@TheDarkConRises]

Love these mini-documentary style videos!

[@JonathanThomas-eo4bw]

I'm blown away by how they made the controller

[@nowherenearberlin1316]

Let's get technical with Access! Love it XD

[@HereticDuo]

Its magic. Thats all the explanation i need, dont care how it works, all that matters is that it works.

[@wye7594]

The DualSense on Sackboy is great ! I just wish they would be a sensation when you walk but of course it would use the battery a lot so many that's why it isn't but there could be an option to activate the sensation when you just walk ?

[@peterpenguin1595]

Guess it all comes down to this: You have to experience it 😄

[@danielcastrillon7643]

Hopefully soon I will experience this controller and all this magic. I love the technology on videogames and the dual sense controller includes a lot of features that I want to experience.

[@Tu.Mama.Perro.]

The speaker and microphone are honestly the best

[@FromThe9thDimension]

Awesome to hear more about it, it's easily the greatest controller ever made.

[@kbcarte420]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, lets hear more from the devs themselves!

[@MadZprod23]

My ps5 arrived yesterday, first game I played was deathloop, I played half an hour in to the game and I was still at the very beginning messing about with guns and I was surprised about this haptic feedback, such a cool and emersive feature ! I didn't know this was a thing so it was an awesome surprise hence why I was still at the beginning of the level just shooting and playing sound with the environment.

[@MuddyFox76]

Playing Dirt 5 is awesome, really can't go back to a standard controller now for racing games. I might mention WRC 9 also however having said that some games implementation is lacklustre

[@MrDinodane]

Wish someone could explain why there is still none on the shelves

[@stevenandino8178]

Kinda easy, more gamers thanks to Covid. and scalpers taking advantage of the situation. Selling more than what they can produce. Cant do more than just wait until everybody has one so stocks can last i guess.. they've sold like 10 millions(and counting) PS5s yet it feels like nobody has one, imagine.

[@Maecmpo]

yes, more of this

[@dim9907]

I just wish they’d switched to asymmetrical analogs like the Xbox controllers, it just works better. About all the other features they really nailed it. A game changer imo

[@dazzaboy04]

When I first experienced the raindrops on Astro's Play Room I actually ducked

[@MrWazzup112]

Best controller ever. Loved the implementation of it in PS5 games.

[@duannehaughton4893]

The controller is awesome. I just got a PS5 and am impressed much.😮

[@jnaur6849]

Coming from a Series X since launch, I don't think I would enjoy a game like Returnal as much without the Dual Sense. It's really great how well it brings you into the game more, even the sound of cooldowns refreshing coming from the controller is fantastic and very helpful

[@49diewj]

Having bought a PlayStation five and finally experienced the dual sense for myself, I can truly say this is next level haptics. Actually kind of gives me some hope for haptic gloves for VR.

[@ChocoAL14]

Hoping to snag a PS5 this year to definitely experience this.

[@infinite6339]

I went to Game in trafford center day before my god the dualsense on ratchet and clank feels amazing especially the gun resistance and the floor shocks. Such an immersive game and its really great. Already got my ps5 just waiting for christmas to open it

[@MikeKnops]

I'd like to see more videos like this one

[@luuketaylor]

The way I describe it is like this: When playing a PS4 game after playing PS5 games with the DualSense, my hands feel blind. It's a night and day difference!

[@spongeman1512]

The black one is ✨👍👍👌👌

[@apictureoffunction]

I think one of my favorite things about the haptic feedback so far is how walking on different surfaces/materials in Astro's Playroom actually feels different on the controller. Like, walking on glass feels totally different than walking on sand or wood

[@a1phasa1ty90]

when I first felt the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers I was like WOW How does this work!

[@UKgamer87]

Can you guys explain why the ps5 doesn't have atmos(even though most ps4/ps5 games people play support it) and why we still don't have adaptive sync?

[@danielhanson4673]

Is there an option where u can have the adaptive triggers on for single player but automatically turn of on multiplayer cos I have had to turn it off cos I play a lot of multiplayer like FIFA 😭

[@ecu4321]

How to experience it when it’s that difficult getting a ps5 at non-scalper prices?

[@xXkashmoney99Xx]

I heard so much hype before I got a ps5 and so many people said you just have to experience it to truly understand. I thought that was all talk and bs but honestly the controller is amazing and it was worth the hype. I definitely feel way more immersed in my games.

[@doomdude69]

How do you fix it once it stops responding?

[@LogiForce86]

The haptic feedback is Buttkicker transducers sized down to a gamepad size. Any sim racer with a rig for racing knows the tech.

[@cricket-tx1bq]

This is a true change to our beloved controllers

[@robertoburkes817]

I actually really like the dual sense controller, even 3rd party games have good support so far. But I had to turn the trigger effect off in dirt 5 after some hours tho, my hands tired lmao.

[@sentryzero]

Now I know where L1 is

[@PeterParker-zm8yk]

Interesting!

[@Gd2knw]

All fun & games till u see a teardown of the controller and realise the true genius is the software 😂🤣

[@MysticalReaper]

I absolutely hope this continues for future consoles. I absolutely love this controller and I've owned the PS5 since launch. I just wish it was used a lot more by devs for games. some games just feel like it's slapped together just to be there. Atros playroom in my opinion uses this feature the best I just hope it continues and devs start to actually really take full advantage of this controller

[@m4y0w4]

Have you tried any other games that utilized it well?

[@MysticalReaper]

@@m4y0w4 I felt like Returnal Used it pretty well, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart used it well too and so does Horizon Forbidden West. But I still never seen it to the extent as Astros. It might be just me though. I felt like Astros used every single part of it because it was showing off what the controller can do. So maybe I'm being a bit to harsh because that was designed to be specifically that. To show off capabilities of the controller

[@grimmako4879]

I used Xbox controllers my whole life and I used this controller and dang it’s pretty comfy

[@williampatterson1376]

Yeah I love the new dualsense controller it's way better than old ps4 controller

[@leafygreen8189]

I'm drooling. Still don't have a PS5. I. Can. Not. Wait

[@BrokeJoker04]

I have had issues with the Ps5 Duel sense controllers. Two now have had messed up joysticks with a little less than a year of play in them. The left stick would auto go left or right, cause the sensor would start failing, than at the same time the D-Pad up and down would stop working also, so you could only use the left and right. I have seen these controllers have had major issues, but overall they are better than the ps4

[@SuperArppis]

Gotta say. I don't like how R1 and L1 are so high up. Using them extensively strains my fingers.

[@handsomegamer6964]

While it's great, it still has some issues - in some games, when the DS activates, it makes a clicking sound which differs from game to game. For example, in Scarlet Nexus it's really loud and annoying, might make you think the controller is broken. Not to mention I have 2 controllers and they both started drifting after only a few weeks... Otherwise, it's awesome, Astro's playroom in particular was an amazing experience thanks to it.

[@mikee405OKC]

The reason why I bought a PS5 was for the Dual Sense Controller amd what it could mean for games and I absolutely LOVE IT.

[@smokegames1179]

game changer

[@Steven18634]

Good video, but I think it could've benefited from some infographics or animations to compliment the explinations.

[@shaggypopper4100]

Anyone remember when PS3 didn't had rumble because it messed up the motion control?

[@Gamesta100]

That's not why it didn't have vibration. Sony's excuse was that nobody cared about vibration. The real reason they didn't add it was because they were either in the middle of a lawsuit regarding the vibration or they had just recently finished a lawsuit regarding the vibration.

[@Steve8K]

Congratulations on 2 million subs! Proud to of been Access since before 200K, Here's to 2 million more 🥂🎊.

[@BLUEFIRE444]

The best ability of the Dualsense is feeling yourself pet the Scampus in Nioh 2. This is a scientific fact

[@nflisrigged1395]

VeRY cooooool Love this feature

[@anthonyanderson3448]

Have to say this controller I thought I would hate is something I fell in love. I was thinking oh this is bigger like X box. But once I was play COD i actually felt like I was firing a real gun and I was lost in the game and not pressing buttons, it felt more natural.

[@def-po8tu]

if sony had put quality springs in the triggers of the dualsense the controller would be Phenomenal but trigger flatten out over 6 month time frame

[@BlazeStorm]

The adaptive triggers are a curse for me, because I still use the PS3 control scheme where I use guns with L1 and R1, but with the PS4 they wanted us to change to L2 and R2

[@IaconDawnshire]

I hope Nintendo's HD Rumble can be improved on with the next console upgrade

[@yeungscs]

dualshock/sense will always be more aesthetically pleasing to me due to the symmetrical layout (not to everyone's taste, i know). now the it has a profile more like the 360 and two-tone colour like it's armored, it's the greatest looking it's ever been.

[@jonathantopp1918]

A true feet of engineering genius.

[@prodomango712]

Can they explain why I’ve had to send my dualsense to Sony 4 times because of drift?

[@dividedbytimestudios]

I just got a PS5, what games are best use of the remote? I was disappointed with the haptic feedback in Gran Turismo 7,

[@Kev-O33]

voice over sounds like hes about to add points to gryffindor

[@shshankking]

Game devs need to incorporate these features.. But apart from Sony's first party studios, I dont think many will bother, unless paid well.

[@mohabsoliman7172]

The most creative thing in years

[@killrblue]

Best controller ever made😍

[@Howardsternclone69]

I can’t imagine controllers 50 years from now, it’s prob going to have a hookup to your spinal cord and you feel everything that happens, you get shot in the game you feel that, you get your leg blown off, your leg falls off kinda things

[@elliotdorris3608]

As a ps5 user I can say at least from my experience, the whole thing about "forgetting the controller is in your hands" isn't really the case but that's not to down play the the dualsense. The dualsense is an amazing piece of engineering but it ties in with the gameplay very nicely and adds a whole new dynamic to some games that you have already played.

[@LG1ikLx]

Rift Apart is probably the best game for duel sense.

[@ThePoushal]

Thanks Amazon got one for £32 🔥

[@jimtally6006]

Wish I knew how it felt, at this rate I’ll just wait for the ps6

[@TheAddictioneer]

The dual sense is a big drift from the usual dualshock incremental design. No Pun intended

[@TheAddictioneer]

@@High.on.Life_DnB I tried hard to hide the pun. I don't want anyone to feel that it was intended. But you got me. It was intended indeed. Should've said the truth from the beginning. I guess everyday we drift further from god's light

[@Lanse1984]

Innovations are the things that separate Microsoft and Sony.