These customizable rear buttons, whichever type you go for, can really feel like a terrific various to utilizing face buttons or shoulder triggers for issues like handbook gear shifts in racing video games. I additionally created one structure that mirrored the L2 and R2 triggers to the again paddles, and though that meant forsaking the DualSense’s adaptive set off capabilities (once they resist your enter, usually used for haptic tips like pulling a bow string) and rendering the bodily adjustable set off distance of the Edge nearly pointless, it allowed me to extra comfortably have fingers on the prepared for all 4 shoulder button inputs, which I discovered helpful on quite a lot of video games, from motion video games reminiscent of Stellar Blade to shooters like Helldivers 2. We’re speaking fractions of a distinction, however should you’re a aggressive gamer, that may imply loads.
A Alternative A part of the Downside
Arguably, the killer characteristic is modular thumbsticks. An nearly vanishingly small launch tab on the bottom pops off a faceplate, permitting both left or proper thumbstick to be eliminated and changed (obtainable individually for about $20). The Edge’s case has an empty slot prepared and ready so that you can pop a spare in. On the floor, that is nice—positive, the Edge is $199, however a $20 substitute half if it develops stick drift is cheaper than shopping for a whole common DualSense at $70 a pop, proper?
Nevertheless, provided that premium pricing, it is disappointing that Sony did not go for Hall effect thumbsticks on the Edge within the first place. These are ceaselessly present in higher-end third-party pro controllers and use magnetic sensors to trace a thumbstick’s place. Not solely is it a much more correct expertise, however Corridor impact sticks do not degrade, as there isn’t any friction or erosion of sensor surfaces internally, which causes drift in most common joypads. If Sony used the modular nature to promote higher-grade Corridor impact sticks individually, it will be considerably comprehensible—underneath the chilly mild of capitalism, it might be one other factor to promote—however there isn’t any signal of that occuring. Whereas third-party Corridor impact mods might be discovered, it appears like an oversight, if not a deliberate omission, on Sony’s half.
{Photograph}: Matt Kamen
The identical modularity additionally means much less house for the controller’s battery. The Edge has a 1,050-mAh battery cell, in comparison with the 1,560-mAh one within the typical DualSense. This unavoidably means shorter play cycles between expenses, though precisely how lengthy will rely on the sport. For a lot of, that is the place that terribly lengthy braided cable will come in useful, permitting you to maintain enjoying longer.
There are just a few different, smaller gripes with the Edge. It feels odd that the taller pair of swappable thumbstick caps are solely obtainable within the older, rounded type, whereas the fashionable, barely recessed model used since PS4 solely will get a default shorter pair. Equally, the truth that there’s solely capability for 2 rear buttons, when many professional pads accommodate 4, might really feel a bit lackluster.
The general high quality of the Edge is simple, although, and its stability of mild onboarding for professional controller newcomers with superior options for extra demanding gamers is phenomenal. It makes for a significantly better strategy to play, however the daunting value means you will pay for the privilege.
