DS4 thumb sticks might have a problem?

Can someone link to some decent grip things available in the UK? I bought some off Amazon but they were pretty crap.

My controller is pretty much fucked at this point, I can barely place a pass on FIFA.
 
Kyoufu said:
It went from being a slippery mess to the perfect pair of sticks so I don't know what difference it would make if I were to use my current controller or a new one with grips.

Or do you mean that the grips will eventually fall off? They are a tight fit and extremely durable so I don't see that happening.
Click to expand...

I meant if you're going to mask the issue do it on a brand new controller. Because they are such a tight fit if the original rubber padding is beginning to deteriorate it may just delay rather than save it.

Tabular said:
If you read any of those pages you'd see many report no issue. I bought mine day one and just bought another. Can't tell them apart. Not an issue for those unaffected then.
Click to expand...

How many have come back and realized they actually do have the issue after thinking they're fine? It's a problem.

Gusto said:
Both my controllers have torn left sticks and Sony won't send me a replacement until I ship them to Sony. Just go look at the display ones too, the left sticks are all f*cked. My XBOne sticks are perfect.
Click to expand...

This is annoying. Have they even admitted it yet? That's what makes me think every single controller is susceptible. It's too common at this point so they'd have to do a recall. Wouldn't it be easier to take your CC # and charge you if you don't return your damaged controller within a certain time? I think they even want you to pay for shipping.
 
FrankWza said:
How many have come back and realized they actually do have the issue after thinking they're fine? It's a problem.
Click to expand...

I don't know, how many? The rational default assumption is zero until evidence is presented to the contrary. So have you counted them up? If not, you have no evidence for the claim that all controllers are affected by this build quality issue.

How many millions of controllers are out there now? If this was a problem affecting every single one, it would be obvious by now.
 
hey_it's_that_dog said:
I don't know, how many? The rational default assumption is zero until evidence is presented to the contrary. So have you counted them up? If not, you have no evidence for the claim that all controllers are affected by this build quality issue.

How many millions of controllers are out there now? If this was a problem affecting every single one, it would be obvious by now.
Click to expand...


Maybe go back and read the post I quoted that I wrote that about?
 
Kuro said:
FYI guitars with steel strings have a very similar problem. Certain people will make the strings corrode much faster than usual because of the pH or who knows what in their sweat.
Click to expand...

timmaysmittay said:
For what it's worth, from my experience it seems like this is a problem with certain people's sweat rather than the sticks.

Idk what it could be but I have used my DS4 for hours and I have never had the stick wear down (50+ hours in KZSF, BF4, Rayman, etc.) but one of my friends used it for a couple hours and immediately after that I noticed some deterioration on the stick. Nothing major of course, but since then I have put probably 50 more hours on the controller and it looks exactly the same.
Click to expand...

that was my theory too. i remember the old apple pre-unibody macbook pro and powerbook had this issue with the aluminum. people with a certain ph in their sweat would corrode the aluminum finish leaving tiny black pit marks where people would rest their palms. obliviously you can't blame the customer though. lol
 
Mine started peeling...dammit.

tried ordering those analog covers from Amazon but Amazon.ca doesn't have em, and it seems they won't ship outside of the US. I guess ebay's my only option?
 
Mine has started cracking on the left stick and my buddy's sticks have started to peel as well. Has anybody tried the replacement sticks sold from Hong Kong on eBay?
 
Roddslayer said:
Mine has started cracking on the left stick and my buddy's sticks have started to peel as well. Has anybody tried the replacement sticks sold from Hong Kong on eBay?
Click to expand...
I've successfully replaced mine. Didn't buy them from HK though, Amazon had it with prime shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H56ADXQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
You do need to take apart your controller and it might seem tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it. You especially need to be careful not to lose the tiny springs for the triggers.

Here is how the sticks look like after you tear off the rubber, if someone made caps that you glue on to the bare plastic, it'd be much better and you wouldn't need to take apart your controller:
12929875084_51ccf5a369.jpg
 
Yeah, the grip is gone on my DS4...
wondering if washing my hands after eating would have helped or not

If you get used to it, you can still tear it up!
 
Kuro said:
FYI guitars with steel strings have a very similar problem. Certain people will make the strings corrode much faster than usual because of the pH or who knows what in their sweat.
Click to expand...

I have that kind of sweat and my sticks are 100% fine. I've had the PS4 since December.

While I'm not doubting that sweat may play a role, I do know for absolute certain that the controller I saw at a Target demo station had very different rubber than my sticks. So maybe that particular batch of controllers combined with sweat characteristics accounts for a lot of the variation in stick durability?
 
I called back because I hadn't gotten an email from the first time, anyways, the upselling on the protection plan is fucking stupid. I was told that it seems like a good idea to spend $50 on a protection plan if I'm going to have to replace 3-4 $60 controllers a year. Really? Fucking stupid. I just said, "I hope it doesn't come to that."
 
Yankee Ruin X said:
I got the Orbz ones off of Amazon. Here is a pic, they come with a set of the concave ones and convex ones in the pack. I really like the concave ones they feel so much better than the original stick to me now. I am tempted to put a convex on the left stick and keep the concave on the right to see how that is.
Click to expand...

I got these on the mail yesterday.

The concave ones (360 style) I didn't like at all, they were a bit slippery and they raised the profile of the sticks too much.

The convex ones (dual shock 3 style) are butter tho. Great grip and they barely raise the handling point.
 
so has anyone found any kind of pattern to this issue yet?
like the issue is with a single batch of controllers with a similar serial number or something?

i've got 2 controllers, had my ps4 since christmas. no issues yet
 
I bought stick covers right next day, because my thumbs are fairly large and default stick upper surface was too small for my liking.
 
Build quality of my sticks is still good. I wish like hell they were fully concave and asymmetric, but all-in-all a huge improvement on the ds3.
 
I have had my ps4 since launch and just started today to have some peeling after my first time playing Injustice. I have done nothing but play bf4, ac4 & pinball and I thought I was in the clear :(
 
Already replaced 1 of my controllers around a month ago, now my second controller is starting to peel :(

The one i got replaced is still in its packaging, too scared to open it now. Will be getting the 4 pack of ORB thumb stick covers for sure.

DS3 thumb sticks never had this problem and I put in massive hours on the Battlefields and CoDs over that generation.
 
UltWarrior1 said:
Lol how rampant is this issue, really?
Click to expand...

Called in for my controller replacement and before I could finish my sentence when the dude heard it was about my dualshock 4, he was like: "left stick rubber? Yeah is cool, just sent it in and we'll sent you a new one." So Sony is definitely aware and familiar with the problem.

Anyway, obviously I had no problems with Sony and easily got a replacement out of it. Bought some stick condoms (the Orb ones) to protect them against a new outbreak of the controlleraids though.
 
Jinjo said:
Called in for my controller replacement and before I could finish my sentence when the dude heard it was about my dualshock 4, he was like: "left stick rubber? Yeah is cool, just sent it in and we'll sent you a new one." So Sony is definitely aware and familiar with the problem.

Anyway, obviously I had no problems with Sony and easily got a replacement out of it. Bought some stick condoms (the Orb ones) to protect them against a new outbreak of the controlleraids though.
Click to expand...

Even more annoying at how aware they are. That return process is garbage for 2014. And how sure about a new one are we? Anyone do this yet? Is it a refurb? I'm not big on used controls from people I don't know.
 
FrankWza said:
Even more annoying at how aware they are. That return process is garbage for 2014. And how sure about a new one are we? Anyone do this yet? Is it a refurb? I'm not big on used controls from people I don't know.
Click to expand...

You'd rather deal with them denying the problem? There's a problem with the sticks, everyone and Sony knows that. But they're out there already so rather have them aware and easy about the whole thing (those weren't the exact words btw, but that's how it came across to me).

What else can be different about the return process? The procedure was the same for 360, ok it sucks you lose your controller for a week or two, but if you send in a vacuumcleaner for repair it's exactly the same. They're not just gonna outright send you a new one. Not that I'm defending the fuck-up y'know, it never should have happened in the first place. You don't pay $400 for a pair of disintegrating sticks when you touch them for more than a few hours.

Will let you know on the refurb or not.
 
Jinjo said:
You'd rather deal with them denying the problem? There's a problem with the sticks, everyone and Sony knows that. But they're out there already so rather have them aware and easy about the whole thing (those weren't the exact words btw, but that's how it came across to me).

What else can be different about the return process? The procedure was the same for 360, ok it sucks you lose your controller for a week or two, but if you send in a vacuumcleaner for repair it's exactly the same. They're not just gonna outright send you a new one. Not that I'm defending the fuck-up y'know, it never should have happened in the first place. You don't pay $400 for a pair of disintegrating sticks when you touch them for more than a few hours.

Will let you know on the refurb or not.
Click to expand...


Take a CC number.you get the replacement shipped out right away and you return the defective one in the same box with an RA and return label. I understand that system may have been in place because they imagined if a controller was defective in the past it was non operational. In this case you can still use it. So I think they can change their policy to reflect that on a brand new console. Pretty fair to me. You need the controller to use your system. And why buy a second controller when these issues are still around?


http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2014/01/27/sony-responds-to-dualshock-4-wearing-tearing/

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve asked you to tell us whether or not your DualShock 4 controllers were suffering from wear and tear, even splitting on the edges of the analogue sticks. In the end, our poll gave some quite surprising results.

Of over 6,000 votes, 37.52% of respondents reported some form of wear and tear, with 9.95% suffering from the rubber splitting. Taking those results at face value would indicate that millions of controllers are affected.

We reached out to Sony for a statement on the issue, and their response to our figures was as follows:

A very small number of users have reported to us that the rubber surface of their Wireless Controller DUALSHOCK®4′s analogue sticks have torn.

Although the rubber material of the analogue sticks fulfils our quality assurance standard, we will inspect individual DUALSHOCK®4 controllers experiencing this symptom, and will replace them with new ones for free as long as they are within the warranty.

While we would disagree that practically 1 in 10 controllers is a small number, even taking into account the potential variance of a polling sample, the message here is that if your DualShock 4 suffers from this then you need to exercise your warranty rights. Getting in contact with the retailer you purchased from and/or Sony will enable you to get a free replacement.

For now, it’s business as usual and this is being dealt with on a case-by-case basis. We’ll just have to wait and see whether it develops any further.
 
mattp said:
so has anyone found any kind of pattern to this issue yet?
like the issue is with a single batch of controllers with a similar serial number or something?

i've got 2 controllers, had my ps4 since christmas. no issues yet
Click to expand...

My theory is sweaty hands. Sweat is absorbed by the rubber which then swells up a little and becomes softer, then it's much easier to tear it accidentally, especially the left stick, because you are more likely to push it from the edge since it's not for aiming, and even well trimmed fingernails can put gashes on the sticks if you're pushing from the side.

Probably a bullshit theory, but it's the best I got.
 
I would say this is something they'll quietly change in future models of the controller. They'll probably just update the material they use (I personally wish they'd go back to the convex style).
 
Sweaty hands is a valid reason, but not excusable. Sony knows how to make a controller that doesn't disintergrate with extended use, their own DS3 has done pretty well in my house hold for the last 5 years. I'm baffled why people are giving them a pass and resorting silly stick on nubs to cover up the problem.
 
FrankWza said:
Thttp://www.thesixthaxis.com/2014/01/27/sony-responds-to-dualshock-4-wearing-tearing/

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve asked you to tell us whether or not your DualShock 4 controllers were suffering from wear and tear, even splitting on the edges of the analogue sticks. In the end, our poll gave some quite surprising results.

Of over 6,000 votes, 37.52% of respondents reported some form of wear and tear, with 9.95% suffering from the rubber splitting. Taking those results at face value would indicate that millions of controllers are affected.

We reached out to Sony for a statement on the issue, and their response to our figures was as follows:

A very small number of users have reported to us that the rubber surface of their Wireless Controller DUALSHOCK®4′s analogue sticks have torn.

Although the rubber material of the analogue sticks fulfils our quality assurance standard, we will inspect individual DUALSHOCK®4 controllers experiencing this symptom, and will replace them with new ones for free as long as they are within the warranty.

While we would disagree that practically 1 in 10 controllers is a small number, even taking into account the potential variance of a polling sample, the message here is that if your DualShock 4 suffers from this then you need to exercise your warranty rights. Getting in contact with the retailer you purchased from and/or Sony will enable you to get a free replacement.

For now, it’s business as usual and this is being dealt with on a case-by-case basis. We’ll just have to wait and see whether it develops any further.
Click to expand...

You never take the results of a non-scientific poll at face value. People with problems are almost guaranteed to be overrepresented. It doesn't matter whether they polled 100 or 6000 people if they didn't sample randomly. People with the problem were certainly more likely to search for info on the problem and therefore more likely to stumble upon that poll.

I didn't even know the poll existed because my controller is fine and I wasn't looking into the issue, therefore my controller is not represented in the results. There are surely many more people like me who did not respond and don't have a problem.

Then they go on to claim with authority that "1 out of 10" isn't "small," but that figure is invalid. Bad statistical literacy and bad reporting.

It's good that they got a comment from Sony, in any case. People need to continue to make Sony aware and demand replacements.
 
I have been through 2 controllers and I am on my 3rd now. I have some seriously abrasive fingerprints though so it doesn't surprise me. Always the left stick though. The right looks near perfect.
 
hey_it's_that_dog said:
You never take the results of a non-scientific poll at face value. People with problems are almost guaranteed to be overrepresented. It doesn't matter whether they polled 100 or 6000 people if they didn't sample randomly. People with the problem were certainly more likely to search for info on the problem and therefore more likely to stumble upon that poll.

I didn't even know the poll existed because my controller is fine and I wasn't looking into the issue, therefore my controller is not represented in the results. There are surely many more people like me who did not respond and don't have a problem.

Then they go on to claim with authority that "1 out of 10" isn't "small," but that figure is invalid. Bad statistical literacy and bad reporting.

It's good that they got a comment from Sony, in any case. People need to continue to make Sony aware and demand replacements.
Click to expand...

I posted that to show previous poster that they weren't doing enough. The poll doesn't matter anymore because we all know it's an issue. We need answers and a better return process.
 
My Geltabz showed up. They don't look pretty, but work great. I will note that I can no longer tilt the sticks right up to the rim anymore. I assume this is the car for all of these covers. Thumb traction...where have you been all my life? It'll be hard ever going by back to stock now. The stock controllers should come with that material from the factory. PEACE.
 
Pimpwerx said:
My Geltabz showed up. They don't look pretty, but work great. I will note that I can no longer tilt the sticks right up to the rim anymore. I assume this is the car for all of these covers. Thumb traction...where have you been all my life? It'll be hard ever going by back to stock now. The stock controllers should come with that material from the factory. PEACE.
Click to expand...


Yeah when I had these on my DS3 for concave there was a wear spot on the controller from it rubbing
 
I bought my PS4 here in Sweden on release day with an extra controller. After less than a month the rubber was coming off like rubber from an eraser. I went back to the store and returned home with two new controllers. They were kinda confused at the store but they gave me two new controllers. Last week and yesterday both of those controllers suffered the same fate. I've went through 4 Dualshock 4 controllers in less than four months. I take care of my controllers and I play quite softly compared to my friends. Thankfully the return policy and product guarantee is really good here in Sweden, so I just get a new controller everytime I come back to the store. And this time they said that more and more people have been coming back with the same problem. Also I did a pool on a quite big Swedish gaming forum where more than 10% have had the same problem with the rubbers coming off. One friend of mine have also gone through 4 controllers and he got those from two different stores.

Here is my question. Why the hell have Sony not commented on this? It's a problem and it's becoming more and more apparent. Why are not IGN, Gamespot and other big sites pushing for answers? People there who own the consoles must have these problems aswell. I guess Sony want to keep this whole thing under wraps and sneakily change the rubber without getting bad publicity.

Here is what the controller I returned today looked like after circa 2-3 months of usage. Remember that I switch between both of my controllers. So really it's more like 1-2 active months of usage. I play between 1-5 hours per day.

No the controller isn't that dusty. It's back in its packaging which became dusty where I stored it.
jR30Ewm.jpg
 
Jinjo said:
You'd rather deal with them denying the problem? There's a problem with the sticks, everyone and Sony knows that. But they're out there already so rather have them aware and easy about the whole thing (those weren't the exact words btw, but that's how it came across to me).

What else can be different about the return process? The procedure was the same for 360, ok it sucks you lose your controller for a week or two, but if you send in a vacuumcleaner for repair it's exactly the same. They're not just gonna outright send you a new one. Not that I'm defending the fuck-up y'know, it never should have happened in the first place. You don't pay $400 for a pair of disintegrating sticks when you touch them for more than a few hours.

Will let you know on the refurb or not.
Click to expand...

So, got a controller back from Sony. Took them exactly seven dags from the moment I handed off the box at the post office. Nice, speedy delivery. Also, it's not a refurb. Here's the possible bad news: it looks like I got another one with the sensitive sticks. The rubber is definitely a lot more grainy than the new red controller I bought, which I assume is gonna make the wear worse. Could be wrong though, but I'm not gonna try it out, put on some stick condoms just to be safe.
 
Earlier today I sent Amazon an email about my faulty DS4 to see if there was any chance of getting a replacement. Within 15 mins I got a reply offering a partial refund of 20% of the price of my KZSF bundle (£77.00) and I don't even have to send the old DS4 back!

Im constantly astounded by how pro consumer Amazon are.
 
I've had my console for just over 3 weeks, played it less than 100 hours and the grip on my left stick just split. I noticed the left stick losing grip after a few days of use, so expected it to happen, but not this quickly.
I called and sorted a replacement and was told by the retailer that this was a common problem they're well aware of.

I'll hold off buying an extra controller 'til this issue is fixed.
 
G0DLIKE said:
I've had my console for just over 3 weeks, played it less than 100 hours and the grip on my left stick just split. I noticed the left stick losing grip after a few days of use, so expected it to happen, but not this quickly.
I called and sorted a replacement and was told by the retailer that this was a common problem they're well aware of.

I'll hold off buying an extra controller 'til this issue is fixed.
Click to expand...

I just went ahead and bought covers for my analog. I really hope Sony ships out a new revision soon.
 
Wow, my sticks were fine until a very small slit formed on the left stick,
within 30 minutes the rubber is just falling off the stick now without even using the controller.
 
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