Some things can’t be improved upon. Look at The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker or Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, and tell us we’re wrong. Until recently, we counted Sony’s DualSense controller amongst that list. And then we got to see the DualSense Edge in person. We’d heard about Sony’s ‘pro’ controller for months, putting it in the back of our minds, convinced that it couldn’t topple the DualSense from its perch. How wrong we were.
While Stuff was playing around with the PSVR 2, we were offered the chance to briefly check out the DualSense Edge. There was just one problem. We couldn’t take it home with us. Despite the R4,400 price tag, these controllers are a hot commodity right now. And… we get it.
Don’t get us wrong. This is still a DualSense controller at heart, with a few extras that give it an edge over the competition. Its size, shape, buttons (besides the different colour scheme), joysticks and triggers aren’t any different from the stock DualSense as far as we can tell. There’s a minimal weight difference – it now weighs 322g – everything that’s stuck around from the previous iteration is as great here as it always was. It’s what’s been added that makes all the difference.
Brad Pitt’s favourite question
Open the box and you’ll discover a hardshell case, complete with two sets of rear paddles, and four swappable analogue sticks reminiscent of the iconic PlayStation domes. The added braided cable and accompanying cable lock were a nice touch. The controller itself comes with adaptable triggers, and physical profile selector buttons (for emergency FIFA sessions).
That’s all great – but there’s something missing. One of the Edge’s best features (arguably its best) is the ability to hot-swap analogue components should you feel matters… going adrift. The hardshell case teases owners with a slot specifically for one of those replacement modules, without actually providing one. We don’t mind buying a new module when we need it – but come on. Throw us a bone.
Does it come in black? (No)
There’s plenty to love about the Edge’s outer beauty. Sony hasn’t screwed with any of the important stuff, besides the heavier feel — something we enjoy. It’s a simple change that does a lot of the work in making the Edge feel more ‘premium’. But there are stylistic differences most will appreciate.
Instead of the plastic coating we’ve become accustomed to, the Edge is covered in a barely noticeable (but still rad) tactile coating made up of PlayStation’s iconic X, square, triangle and circle symbols. The touchpad makes use of a similar (still rad) pattern, with the symbols showing up under any sort of bright light.
Surrounding the home button and analogue sticks is a shiny plastic that we could certainly do without. We know why it’s there – for easier access to those hot-swappable analogues we mentioned earlier. It’s not the plastic itself that bothers us, but we have to ask – why is it shiny? We guess that Sony has plans to sell individual front plates – probably alongside the differently coloured controllers that we’re sure will hit the shelves any day now.
Oh, and Sony’s decision to use black symbols on all the buttons? Genius. The white colour scheme that Sony opted to use on the stock DualSense just doesn’t cut it the way these do.
Filled to the brim
Internally, the Edge can do plenty. Remapping every button? No problem. Adjusting each analogue’s dead-zone and every minute detail of the sensitivity curves. Without breaking a sweat. And the best part? You can even assign each minuscule change its own specific profile, complete with its own name and slot in the quick settings tab. Keep in mind: there are only four quick-settings slots available. Exceed that, and you’ll be forced into the settings to access your full list of controller presets every time you’re looking to make a change.
It’s a little overwhelming at a first glance. That’s more-or-less countered by the on-screen tutorial that’ll pop up when plugging it in for the first time. You’ll get a guided tour through your first profile creation that should get you up to speed.
We didn’t get a chance to dive too deeply into the controller’s mapping and analogue settings. We did see that there are several presets when it comes to the analogue settings such as quick, precise or dynamic sensitivity curves, each with its own strengths. From there, you can fiddle with the settings, making it truly yours.
Pull back a bit, and you’ll find two sets of switches, placed under the R2 and L2 buttons on the device’s rear. Each switch has three settings – adjusting the trigger’s travel distance. The highest setting will give the triggers an instant reaction, while the lowest will feel like the standard DualSense triggers. The middle setting… is somewhere in-between the two.
Below that are two small cut-outs where the additional paddles (found in that hardshell case) can slot into. One set is smaller and more rounded and the other is thin and sticks out far beyond the controller. The choice of which you want to use is completely up to you. Just slide them in, and the magnets inside the controller will automatically attach themselves to the paddles.
One thing we wish we got more time to test out was the battery life. The DualSense isn’t exactly the poster boy for great battery life and we don’t expect any difference from the Edge. According to some reports, the Edge survives for just longer than five-and-a-half hours – around the same as the DualSense’s battery life. It’s probably safest to keep that braided cable close at all times.
Sony’s DualSense Edge initial verdict
We have no qualms in saying this is the best controller we’ve ever used. It is a ‘pro’ controller through and through, made for people that only ever touch grass in Elden Ring. We aren’t in love with the R4,400 price tag, but we get it. Sony’s gotta Sony.
We’d advise those who aren’t everyday gamers to stay away. The standard DualSense is now, in our opinion, the second-best controller on the market. If you’re not out hunting for some sort of gameplay improvements, then the DualSense should suit your needs for the next few years until the price of the Edge comes down to a more affordable level.