DS4 thumb sticks might have a problem?

EightBitNate said:
I'd love to see a poll to approximate what percent of people are effected.
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Problem is, the poll would need to allow you to change your vote. There's been a bunch of people come in and say that their controller was ok and come back a week or 2 later with the issue. That's why it's useless to post that your controller is fine.
 
Both of my controllers have slight flaking on the left stick and it's only been getting worse lately (heavier gaming sessions). I really wish Sony would come out and acknowledge this issue because this is getting out of hand. It's been over two months.
 
Was playing MGR tonight and could feel the left thumbstick getting worse and worse. I looked at my thumb, and it has a bunch of black flakes on it. I don't think it'll make it to the credits of Rising.

Has anyone had luck contacting Sony? I don't have my Gamestop receipt from when I picked it up.
 
JBourne said:
Has anyone had luck contacting Sony? I don't have my Gamestop receipt from when I picked it up.
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You can call in for a warranty claim. You'll need to send your controller back to Sony so they can verify the defect Shipping it to them is out of your pocket and you'll probably be without a controller for ten days.
 
I've got something strange going on with my left thumbstick. The texture is different than the right one. It feels a bit sticky.

It was like this from the moment I pulled it out of the box.
 
bender said:
You can call in for a warranty claim. You'll need to send your controller back to Sony so they can verify the defect Shipping it to them is out of your pocket and you'll probably be without a controller for ten days.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I might wait for them to admit they fucked up and maybe they'll cover shipping.

Lizard with a ladder said:
I've got something strange going on with my left thumbstick. The texture is different than the right one. It feels a bit sticky.

It was like this from the moment I pulled it out of the box.
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Mine got like that right before it started flaking. Be prepared.
 
At this point they should just dump the DS4 analog and go back to the DS3 one. It wore down, but it took 3-4 years of use... not 3-4 weeks.
 
Duxxy3 said:
At this point they should just dump the DS4 analog and go back to the DS3 one. It wore down, but it took 3-4 years of use... not 3-4 weeks.
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they're not going to switch back to convex. Sony polled and this style is preferred. They can use ds3 material I guess.
 
FrankWza said:
they're not going to switch back to convex. Sony polled and this style is preferred. They can use ds3 material I guess.
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I don't know if that will work. If they use a harder material it will have less grip (I should know, the ebay replacements are like that). It's possible to use a harder material, but the DS4 analog has too little surface space to make up for loss of grip.
 
Has anyone tested to see if a DS3 thumbstick will fit into a DS4 without too much modification? I'd gladly swap over; I much prefer a convex stick top. A left thumb stick spends so much of its life being pushed straight forward, and a convex stick gives your thumb much more surface area to push against, as opposed to just jamming your thumb into the rim of a concave one.
 
Mine are flaking now after about 400 hours of play time. Not along the edges like some of the pics posted here, but in the center. Ugh. This sucks.
 
Odrion said:
Three controllers, no signs.

Although one controller has a part on the left handle that feels really loose. Kinda annoying.
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My controller feels loose on the handle too. Same side as well.

It's almost as if 2 different people assembled this thing. The right side is perfect. The left side has a loose handle and the left thumbstick is sticky.
 
Snaku said:
Seems to be a crap shoot depending on who you speak with. My Amazon rep offered me a 50% refund.
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That 40% turned out to be applied for the price of the whole system. They gave me $160 refund, and told me to keep the controller.

Disappointed in Sony, amazed by Amazon.
 
It's good that big retailers and e-tailers are having to do refunds like this, because that will have a direct influence on Sony eventually doing a controller revision.
 
H3avyM3tal said:
Can you spot the differences?


Now the ds4 looks much better.

Though there is a problem. The ds4's thumbsticks have a larger base (diameter wise). Both are equally thick, so the travel distance between center and left/right wherever is the same. But because of the larger base of the ds4's thumbsticks, when you fit this to the right thumbstick on the xbone controller, it will travel less, because it will hit the controller's pcb. The left sick is fine though.

Anyway, here it is.
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Just out of interest, do you find the Xbox One controller sticks to be better than the stock Dual Shock 4 sticks?
 
We had another two returned to us in store yesterday with this problem. Both times the game played is Fifa. People too aggressive on the controller lol

Also @ Above, the XB1 sticks are way better. Might just be me.
 
NahNever said:
I can already tell my new DS4 won't make it. The controller and FIFA does not mix well at all.
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Agreed - FIFA definitely does a number on the controller and many of the people here with pristine controllers are probably not playing it. Anyway, I put in an order for some stick covers. Getting a replacement won't do anything since this seems to be an issue at the root of the manufacturing process. Hopefully Sony offers some kind of way to replace/upgrade to their updated controller whenever they have those out, but I doubt it.
 
What is so special about FIFA? Fast direction changes? That is also part of NBA Live, NBA 2K, maybe Madden etc...

Me and my brother often play FIFA too, but it's not like we're hammering out sticks around like crazy all the time. If the controller isn't built for a more "aggressive" use (in terms of moving your players around all the time) then there will be a lot of problems with future games.
 
My sticks (controller from console) have always been "oily" as in rubber wearing away when you play. Last night a chunk of rubber fell out of the middle of my left stick which is completely raw versus the still somewhat textured look of the right stick... Time to finally look at these grips or replacement sticks.

Anyone ordered the replacement sticks care to comment/sell a few? I'm sure most people don't need 10 sticks. Do the grip-its stay in place well?
 
My buddy is having the same issue, called sony & he had to pay to have it shipped to them.. This pic reminds me of the pic from the gaming kiosk that was out around the time of the ps4 launch. This pic & the other one look like a finger nail was dug into the top of the stick. Seems like it's a legit issue after all...
QdpcLU0.jpg
 
MARNEY said:
My buddy is having the same issue, called sony & he had to pay to have it shipped to them.. This pic reminds me of the pic from the gaming kiosk that was out around the time of the ps4 launch. This pic & the other one look like a finger nail was dug into the top of the stick. Seems like it's a legit issue after all...
QdpcLU0.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't know if you are UK or not but most retailers are replacing it.
 
Im in Netherlands, called Sony and they told me to ship it back.
I found it realy strange that the retailer (where I bought it) doesnt want to take my controller back.
 
So I had some fairly obvious splitting and flaking of the rubber material beginning on the the left thumbstick after a couple of hours of FIFA when a friend brought it over as I mentioned in an earlier post. Then he took it the game home and I've just played Battlefield since and well.. It's mostly smoothed out and hard to tell that there is a problem. I'm going to feel kind of goofy about sending it back, but the Amazon replacement is already here. I'm sure it will eventually fall apart though, just depends on how long it takes for it to wear down, or if FIFA makes a comeback.
 
So, can you immediately feel a defective stick when they're right out of a box? Do they feel like they're missing something?
 
Odrion said:
So, can you immediately feel a defective stick when they're right out of a box? Do they feel like they're missing something?
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You can't see it immediately. Play a few hours and you should be able too see first signs of unusual wear.

Sony replaced my controller within a week, it arrived today. Model number is the same.
The second controller will be sent in soon, too.
 
After having played abot 110 hours with my DS4 I start feeling that the left stick is changing a bit. Its not bad yet so I guess I'll buy nubs for it to protect it.

My DS4 is fucked anyway. If a shake it I hear stuff inside bouncing around(only on the left side).
The left "horn" or whatever you call it isn't plain. There is an upper part and a lower part and on the right side those two are firmly on each other. On the left horn they're not and if I press it a little bit it makes a noise.

I like the DS4, but its really not very durable.
 
I finally applied the DS4 grips I bought from Amazon since my left stick was not only tearing apart but also felt slippery when playing a game. Now it feels great and sticks to my thumb perfectly.

Highly recommend DS4 analog grips. Cheap and effective.
 
1.21Gigawatts said:
After having played abot 110 hours with my DS4 I start feeling that the left stick is changing a bit. Its not bad yet so I guess I'll buy nubs for it to protect it.

My DS4 is fucked anyway. If a shake it I hear stuff inside bouncing around(only on the left side).
The left "horn" or whatever you call it isn't plain. There is an upper part and a lower part and on the right side those two are firmly on each other. On the left horn they're not and if I press it a little bit it makes a noise.

I like the DS4, but its really not very durable.
Click to expand...

1) All of my DS3's started doing this after months/years. Nothing unusual. They still work perfectly.

2) Yep, my second controller also isn't plain there. Also heard of a few friends who have the same problem. My first one and the replacement for it were/are fine though.
 
My sticks are still fine after two months of solid use. Guess I lucked out and didn't get one of the bad batches! Hope everything works out for anyone with defective sticks.
 
MARNEY said:
My buddy is having the same issue, called sony & he had to pay to have it shipped to them.. This pic reminds me of the pic from the gaming kiosk that was out around the time of the ps4 launch. This pic & the other one look like a finger nail was dug into the top of the stick. Seems like it's a legit issue after all...
QdpcLU0.jpg
Click to expand...

Fingernails look pretty long. I will have to assume it's user error since my DS4s are fine.
 
1.21Gigawatts said:
After having played abot 110 hours with my DS4 I start feeling that the left stick is changing a bit. Its not bad yet so I guess I'll buy nubs for it to protect it.

My DS4 is fucked anyway. If a shake it I hear stuff inside bouncing around(only on the left side).
The left "horn" or whatever you call it isn't plain. There is an upper part and a lower part and on the right side those two are firmly on each other. On the left horn they're not and if I press it a little bit it makes a noise.

I like the DS4, but its really not very durable.
Click to expand...

Should be ok to unscrew the left bottom screw, let it out and put it back in place. Not sure what the rattling noise is. I have not been kind to my DS4, and still have yet to break anything internally.

Odrion said:
So, can you immediately feel a defective stick when they're right out of a box? Do they feel like they're missing something?
Click to expand...

The rubber has more play to it.

Mr.Gingerlicious said:
Just out of interest, do you find the Xbox One controller sticks to be better than the stock Dual Shock 4 sticks?
Click to expand...

Xbox one analog stick is much better for keeping your thumb in place. The DS4 analog feels more comfortable (because of heigh and material). I have two controlllers, so I use them for different things. For long play games I stick to the regular DS4 analog sticks. For ghosts I use the xbox one sticks.
 
I dont get it man. I just caught my puppy gnawing on the left thumbstick but its perfectly fine as far as I can tell. I dont know how human thumbs could make it look like in the pics posted.
 
I brushed the problem off as a myth or hardcore player abuse, but yesterday when I started playing, I discovered that both my controllers had a little cut on the same spot on the lower left side of the left stick. The left sticks have also become a bit more slippery, which wouldn't be a problem, but the damage is. Both controllers (black and red) were used since launch. They both got about the same play time since battery life isn't that long and I interchange them, but i wouldn't call myself a marathon gamer. It's definitely a real problem with the product. :(
Edit: AC4 and Fifa are the games I've played the most.
 
Van Owen said:
Fingernails look pretty long. I will have to assume it's user error since my DS4s are fine.
Click to expand...
Are you serious? They look like a couple of millimeters at best. And even if he had long fingernails how would his fingernails ever reach the rubber of the sticks? Unless he holds his thumb at a 90 degree angle and use force on them to be able to created such marks on them.
 
Does anyone have a good recommendation for thumbstick covers? I'm using the grip its currently, but I find the texture is bothering my thumbs at the moment.
 
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