• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Dualsense is a Scam

Are the joysticks good? Better quality than Dualsense? I am seeing this controller in a nearby shop. I might just get this one then
Its tighter than the dualsense joystick. Also dunno how big is your hand, but that controller is smaller
 
Last edited:
I've never had controllers break like DualSense. Honestly can't even remember having any other controller break my entire long life, but have had to throw out 3 DualSense.

It's also frustrating because I have perfectly fine DS4s still sitting around I can't use because Sony pointlessly blocks their use for any PS5 title.
The only official controller that ever annoyed me was the DualShock 3, for whatever reason the analog sticks on that controller start producing a very disgusting sticky goo if you use it frequently, never happened with any other controller I've ever owned.

As for the DualSense I never had any real issues with it when I owned a PS5, overall I really liked all the new tech that's inside it, unfortunately very few games besides Astro Bot actually take advantage of the DualSense's full capabilities but that's a whole other story.
 
Last edited:
8bitdo Ultimate 2. It's all you need for PC. Until the Steam controller 2.0 comes out.
I have a 8bitdo Ultimate 1 & 2 and love them both on my PC. The Ultimate 3 is just coming out and looks to be Xbox currently, I'm sure we will start seeing them come out with other ones of the Ultimate 3.

I've never had stick drift in all my years with any controllers. Some of you guys much treat them like an ex that cheated on you or something
 
I've experienced the opposite. My two Dualsense controllers have no problems. I have 4 series controllers, 3 of which have varying issues such as drift and sticky triggers/buttons. Not caused by cheeto dust either, my hands are always clean and the controllers are stored when not used. I feel your pain though. It's incredibly frustrating.
All controllers that share the same stick tech as these controllers have a chance to develop stick drift, especially with modern games that have very tight deadzones. Only the DS that came with my console got stick drift, but the other one that i bought at launch as well never got drift and has more than 5 years of heavy use on it. Its a lottery. They need to adopt better tech for sticks.
 
The only official controller that ever annoyed me was the DualShock 3, for whatever reason the analog sticks on that controller start producing a very disgusting sticky goo if you use it frequently, never happened with any other controller I've ever owned.

As for the DualSense I never had any real issues with it when I owned a PS5, overall I really liked all the new tech that's inside it, unfortunately very few games besides Astro Bot actually take advantage of the DualSense's full capabilities but that's a whole other story.
I was mostly a 360 gamer in those days but yeah I had a goo-controller too, forgot about that! lol

Never had issues with 360 controllers, or PS4 controllers. Haven't used any modern Xbox controllers much but the DualSense has just been crap for me personally.

Luck of the draw really. Talking controllers I used maybe 2-3 times that just broke in some way. Still hard for me to trust the quality.

We have 2 systems and the OG controllers + 2 replacements actually broke now that I check my order history. So we've paid for 4 controllers, not cheap.
 
Yeah, fuck that potentiometer module.

Consider getting an Edge, you can replace bad sticks for $20. Still inferior to the newer tech but better than a completely useless drifting regular dualsense. But then you gonna have to deal with the pathetic battery life of edge...

stick-module-angle
Edge is amazing but I wasn't sure his budget.
 
Are the joysticks good? Better quality than Dualsense? I am seeing this controller in a nearby shop. I might just get this one then
I use the one with the Nintendo button layout. Sticks are fine. Triggers are shitty like the DS4 IMO. It'll do the job though.
 
Another Dualsense with stick drift after a year of use. I have never seen anything like this and I've been playing games for almost 4 decades. This is my fourth controller and now I will have to buy a new one because it's very uncomfortable to play with this issue.

I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller? Is it worth it?

I am thinking of getting one for pc and not buying Sony controllers ever again
I've watched my nephew replacing his dualsense controller often. I on the other hand have replaced the xbox controller since the one x 2 times. I don't know about everyone else but I don't wrestle my controller cause if I suck at some games then I just have to admit it cause I'm a no streamer and I play for myself, not for someone else.
 
Last edited:
i find it funny people keep buying these things. just mod it for ffs.

get a TMR sticks and mod it. both my DS controllers are moded with TMR sticks for more than a 1 year now. works like a charm and on same level as my Wolvarin V3 Pro if not better.

its not that hard to do. or at worse find someone local who can do it for you. still much cheaper than buying a new controller that WILL break on you again. stop giving Sony money like a noob
 
All 3 of them need suing for the sticks in the controllers. I've went through fucking 3 DualSenses. Ordered a Turtle Beach something or other with modular HE sticks, good controller but takes too much to get used to with CoD.
Ordered a DualSense with TMR sticks, which is great.
 
4 years with the base controller and more than a year with the one coming with the Pro and zero problems and I play a lot of fighting and action games.

But I heard some people having drift issues
 
Both my EU Dualsenses developed crunchy sticks and broken shoulder springs quite quickly

Someone recommended I try a Japanese Dualsense due to superior build quality, and indeed it felt like new for years, but it too sadly developed drift

Shame, because otherwise it's a lovely controller
 
PC has better options than both.

Edit: like this.

FLYDIGI-Vader-5-Pro-PC-Controller-FORCEFLEX-Joysticks-3ms-Ultra-Low-Latency-FORCESWITCH-Triggers-8-Extra-Buttons-Triggers-Grips-Vibration-1000mAh-Bat_145b7bdf-3c49-4968-94cc-051bc8d58da8.f3af974914ddb4325c4a5f235d488100.jpeg


The controller looks nice but i will never understand how anyone could play games with asymmetrical thumb sticks as i find them really annoying. Symmetrical is far better for long gaming sessions.
 
Another Dualsense with stick drift after a year of use. I have never seen anything like this and I've been playing games for almost 4 decades. This is my fourth controller and now I will have to buy a new one because it's very uncomfortable to play with this issue.

I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller? Is it worth it?

I am thinking of getting one for pc and not buying Sony controllers ever again

I had 1st DS for 4 years, no stick drift issues, second one for a year and no issues so far.
But reality is I use PS5 was less than I use PC. My Xbox Series S controller is abused way more, but it also doesn't show any issues with stick drift.

I had some problems like that with PS2 and PS3 controllers.
 
Last edited:
I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller?

Not any better. The black controller that came packed in with my launch XSX had a bad RB and X button out of the box. Microsoft replaced it. Within a year the LB on the replacement failed. I bought one of the early special color ones (aqua shift was its name IIRC), and it developed stick drift in six months. I bought a spare robot white, that one is getting stick drift now.

It's reached a point where I use the 8Bitdo wired Ultimate controller primarily on my Xbox because the sticks are Hall effect and the bumpers are better designed.
 
I have 4x dual sense controllers and had 1/4 drift pretty badly.

Mind you I mostly play racing or sports games plus RPGs on PS5, not quick twitch based action games or shooters.
 
Yeah, fuck that potentiometer module.

Consider getting an Edge, you can replace bad sticks for $20. Still inferior to the newer tech but better than a completely useless drifting regular dualsense. But then you gonna have to deal with the pathetic battery life of edge...

stick-module-angle
$20 per stick, fuck that (you can get TMR replacements instead though). And apparently the bottom of the controller goes weird.
 
Another Dualsense with stick drift after a year of use. I have never seen anything like this and I've been playing games for almost 4 decades. This is my fourth controller and now I will have to buy a new one because it's very uncomfortable to play with this issue.

I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller? Is it worth it?

I am thinking of getting one for pc and not buying Sony controllers ever again

Yes, they're shit - you have to thank the Alps potentiometers for that.

Don't buy a new one Papito, find a guy on ebay and have him replace the Alps modules with HAL/TMR ones - that's what I did and I couldn't be happier.
Paid around 50€ for 2 dualsenses (4 sticks/modules in total).

It's planned obsolescence and a lack of proper quality control and no one can convince me otherwise, I never had so many problems with stick drift during all the previous generations of consoles.

Also, since you asked, Xbox controllers are even worse : sticky A/Y buttons, bumper buttons that break easily (especially if you play souls games), trigger stops which wear out easily making the triggers produce a plasticky sound, triggers that grind on the frame of the joypad which break easily, fucked vibration motors straight out of the box etc etc.
Must have changed/bought 5 different ones between my XONE X and XSX, absolutely horrible quality control.

Again, they're all shit

Edit : DO NOT get the DS Edge , it's still shit, terrible battery life, handle material which literally melts away, still Alps modules and good luck finding spares.
Spend your 200€ elsewhere
 
Last edited:
I got me some slightly used xbone and series controller on marketplace, about half price... around the time I got my PS5.

Lont story short, the DS5 is pure garbage compared to any Sony controllers from previous gen, just get some xbox controllers if you game on PC, Sony's controllers are expensive and unreliable, of my 4 controllers one has stick drift, three have their joystick plastic peeling and the batteries never lasted long enough to begin with.

I'd be upset if they were 30$ controllers.
 
I have my original launch dualsense and two others and never had any problems. How rough are you people with your controllers?
I know right?
My buddy fucking ruined my ps4 stick in 1 round of cod

I used it for years
 
Probably the lowest quality first party controller ever made. Breaks in a year and only has like 2-3 hours battery life because of all the stupid "immersive" features.
 
Are the joysticks good? Better quality than Dualsense? I am seeing this controller in a nearby shop. I might just get this one then

Don't even get the Ultimate 2, just grab the Ultimate 2 C which goes for 29€ on Amazon.

It has HAL effect sticks, battery is OK (around 2 days of use)
 
Related to this, because I think it's a major cause of the problem: clickable sticks were a mistake

It's the worst major innovation in controller design along the entire chain from NES to today's standard gamepads. By a mile.

Absolutely awful idea. It's awkward when you need to do it while moving the stick; it's too easy to trigger by accident in chaotic moments; it's just ergonomically dumb at the most fundamental level; and it causes these things to break faster.

If they really wanted on more place to shove in an input, almost anything would have been better.
 
Ya I'm on my 3rd dualsense myself. I get triggered now every time I even think my current one is starting to drift. Never had to replace controllers before this. They just don't make them like they used to.
 
I have stick drift on both of mine. I use one for PS5 gaming, and one for some PC games. I "fix" them myself, which last for a few weeks/couple of months before they drift again.

I had seven PS3 controllers, and two of them got stick drift after 12 years of use. No issues with PS1/PS2/PS4 controllers.
 
Never had an issue, all 4 of my Dualsenses work excellent. They feel perfect on my hands, i also love the symmetry. For dedicated PC ones i d only get 8bitdo, nothing else
 
Another Dualsense with stick drift after a year of use. I have never seen anything like this and I've been playing games for almost 4 decades. This is my fourth controller and now I will have to buy a new one because it's very uncomfortable to play with this issue.

I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller? Is it worth it?

I am thinking of getting one for pc and not buying Sony controllers ever again


This fixed mine, worth a shot.
 
I'm still using my first DualSense I bought when the PS5 released, unlike you BRUTES I have the gentle hands of a healer and it's still in great shape, tiny near imperceptible stick-drift I only ever notice in Animal Crossing:NH for some reason. For all other use, no problem.

Great controller, the haptics are awesome and more games should support it.
The rumble is the best. No 3rd party uses it that I'm aware of.
 
Never had any problem with my Xbox Series one. In fact, it remains in better shape than almost every other controller I had to far.

Apart from that, anything 8bitdo is a safe bet.
 
Last edited:
I had worse luck with the DS4. I think only one of my Dualsense controllers has had stick drift and I have used three (not including the Edge).
 
Never had stick drift myself even on my launch ps5 dualsense, but my friends do. They hold their controller very firm and put alot of pressure on the sticks, while I hold mine very loose, which may be the reason why
 
Another Dualsense with stick drift after a year of use. I have never seen anything like this and I've been playing games for almost 4 decades. This is my fourth controller and now I will have to buy a new one because it's very uncomfortable to play with this issue.

I want to ask you, how is the experience with the Xbox controller? Is it worth it?

I am thinking of getting one for pc and not buying Sony controllers ever again
Get an 8bitDo, they read as x-input on pc like an xbox controller and I've had much more luck with quality than Playstation or Xbox controllers, plus they have software to tweak them to your liking.
 
My Xbox One controller from 10 years ago still works fine. I use it with the Microsoft USB receiver wireless.

For wired I use a PowerA Fusion Pro 3. No issues, has paddle buttons and no input lag. The current price is crazy though. I bought it when it was about $30.

I'd probably go 8bitdo if I needed a new one due to price.
 
Last edited:
Ironically, I've only ever had stick drift with the Series S/X controller. Someone made a video about blowing compressed air into the sticks; maybe that could work for your DualSense.

If you need a controller for PC, get the Xbox one. While the DualSense has alright support on PC, you can't use the full set of features -- wirelessly -- with every game. The Xbox controller, as archaic and featureless as it is, seamlessly pairs and works with pretty much any game on PC. Much less annoying.
 
Ive been using the same white DS controller for two years on my PC now, i have yet to have issues with stick drift.

But I digress, Ive had two other controllers get stick drift since the ps5's launch.
 
all controller drift.

go buy tmr sticks and put it on dualsense edge. problem solved.
 
Top Bottom