Have we done this question before? I suspect we have, but maybe it’s time for a recount. Last generation I think that the Xbox 360 controller was pretty much the undisputed champion but this time round? I think the contest is a little tighter.
On the side of the Xbox One — sheer form factor, the weight, the addition of the extra rumble sensors. The Xbox One controller is an evolution of one of the best controllers ever designed, so it can’t go wrong really.
The DualShock 4 has in its favour the shock of the new. It’s such a dramatic improvement over its predecessor that it’s hard not to fall in love with it. I love the new analogue sticks, I love the new shoulder buttons. I think the ‘share’ button is ingenious and I’ve been using it frequently. Compared to the Xbox One where the replacement to the ‘Start/Back’ buttons sort of don’t really make sense.
But overall? It’s a difficult contest to call. I think that, if I could choose I’d probably still prefer to play shooters on the Xbox One controller, by a hair. However, I might be inclined to say that I prefer the DualShock 4 overall.
Oh, I dunno. It’s too tough. What do you think?
Comments
52 responses to “The Big Question: DualShock 4 Or Xbox One Controller?”
To me, the xbox controller seems a bit flimsy, the shoulder buttons especially, whereas the dualshock 4 feels weighty and sturdy. A stark contrast to the last gen.
I’m the complete opposite…
I like the weight and heft of the One controller, and find the DS4 to be fairly flimsy.
That said, I’d kind of like the Xbox controller to have a dedicated share button like the Playstation controller does.
How could anyone even say the dualc0ck4… it’s probably the worst controller I have ever used in my life…
had to play destiny with it for 3 days and I was severely dissapointed
why can’t Sony make a decent controller anymore? Last groundbreaking one from them would be the DS2 personally…
otherwise I would be happy with a clone of the Xb1’s amazing controller
I haven’t even touched an Xbox One controller but being an internet commentator I feel like I have the right to say PS4’s better in every way and any one who disagrees with me is a nazi. *folds arms*
Well, Godwin’s Law got invoked pretty quick.
I hold that the xBone controller is better but the Duel Shock 4 controller made the bigger improvements. That said PS4 will be my console of choice this gen should I ever find work and money and a place to put it.
I’m yet to try the xbox one contoller, so I abstain. I’ve never been a fan of the asymmetrical sticks, but i suppose its only because i’m so used to the playstation dual shock contollers.
I never got the asymmetrical setup either when hands are symmetrical.
You mean I am not some weirdo who prefers the sticks to be symmetrical. You mean there is a whole club of us? *tears of joy*
I like the DS4.
The thumbsticks wearing down is a negative but the touch pad and pointer functions work really well when a game takes advantage of them.
I can’t see the lights reflected in the TV so I don’t really pay them much attention.
I’ve tried both and I find each has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the games you’re playing. But I like the fact that the PS4 controller doubles as a VR tracker, a bit of forward planning shown by Sony there.
Gamecube forever man. The Dualshock 4 is a great improvement though. I stand by my statement that the first 2 were like weet-bix.
Gcn controller is amazing 🙂 probably my favourite of all time 🙂
I hate what I’ve felt of the Bone controller. Just seems cheap and horrible, like something you’d expect from a third party offering.
And while I’ve always hated the PlayStation controllers, I *love* what they’ve done with the DS4. Improved pretty much everything about it, almost makes me want to pick one up despite not having a PS4.
That said, GCN still holds the number one spot for me 😛
Have both, love both.
I still prefer the asymmetric sticks on the Xbox controllers, and the rumble triggers are awesome.
However, the DS4 is still an amazing controller. Feels so much more comfortable and responsive than the DS3.
So, Xbox controller by a smidgen.
Dual Shock 4 feels nicer in my hands and I prefer the triggers to the Xbone controller.
But really I like them both.
Well I’ve always been a firm believer in the Dualshock range and the 4 just improves it in almost every way
After a motorcycle accident this year resulted in my left thumb unable to go past 35 degrees, Xbox for life :p.
I still haven’t touched either…
Yet still you thought it a fine idea to comment anyway!
I think Xbone as I a prefer the thumbstick placement and shape. However, I think that the DS4 is a much greater improvement to the DS3 than the Xbone controller is to the 360.
Agreed on both counts. The DS4 is a huge improvement in that it doesn’t give me hand cramps after a few hours, whereas the Xbone controller I got for my PC is just a 360 controller with slightly better ergonomics and more grippy thumbsticks. I will say that the R1/L1/bumpers on the DS4 feel more responsive than the ones on the Xbone controller, which occasionally don’t register a press if you hit the outer half of the button.
Overall, they’re pretty much on par with each other, though the Xbone controller will get more use purely because I’m still waiting for the PS4 to get some more games.
The bumper buttons on the Xbone controller continue to be its biggest weakness IMO. For that reason alone, I feel like it was a slight step backwards from the 360.
Xb1. Only because of the stick configuration, i have NEVER liked sonys placement of them and this controller certainly hasnt fixed that, thats why i purchased two afterglow controllers for the Ps3.
However if it wasnt for that, DS4 would win, funny that.
They’re both good, but the DS4 controller sits nicer in my hands. XB1 overall feels like a very small step backward from the 360 controller, which was previously by far my favourite.
The DS4 is a major improvement on the DS3 however I still go with the xbox one controller.
Both are great, personally I feel the the DS4 offers a little more, and is more ‘revolutionary’ in that sense BUT the sticks rip… still, just like the DS, DS2 and DS3. Bummer.
Each to their own, both work REALLY well on PC as well, the DS4’s touch pad even works as a Track Pad.
I think which ever you get you’ll be happy, assuming you aren’t a massive fan-tard. Just put rechargeable batteries in the X1 pad, and be prepared to buy $5 replacement X1/ Hardened analogs on eBay for the DS4 when you need too. (Although, if you have seen a DS4 with the rubber ripped completely off, an alternative could be to just rip them completely off… if you aren’t prepared to replace them. The sticks are still well shaped, just slippery. Still usable and comfy, but not excusable on a $80 pad)
BTW both pads are on sale in Target for $63 (DS4) and $67 (X1)
Edit:
Forgot to say anything bad about the X1 pad, I only downplayed the DS4 lol.
My only gripes are personal preference: I preferred the 360 pad… The X1 pad’s triggers are now too big, as opposed to too narrow on the 360, and the analogs feel too small and tall. Personal preference though. The D-Pad is FAR better than the 360 one.
Used both extensively and I give it to the Dual Shock 4.
For me, the bumpers on the X1 were too stiff, requiring too much force to use effectively, The analogue sticks were a touch too tall/long and I personally was never a huge fan of the mismatched symmetry on the controller, the triggers were nice though.
The PS4 I can only fault the location off the start button or at least its design, if it were raised from the controllers form a bit then it would be less annoying but it is still bothersome to reach at a strange angle to press it. Also there is a little too much give in the triggers, it could be reduced to maybe 60-70% of the range they currently have and I think it would feel more natural.
DS4 for sure. I’ve got both (the Xbox One controller being hooked up to my PC’s) and the DS4 is by far a better experience. I’m still of the opinion that the 360 controller was better in a number of ways than the Xbox One controller (the flattened back and dpad changes are welcome, but everything else just feels a bit worse).
well imo xbox always had the better controller and still does after 3 consoles. The thumb sticks just sit in the most conformable position for gaming, period. While I do think the thumb sticks on the PS4 are a huge improvement and feel great, I still feel they are in the wrong position. Then again who really cares about the controller when you are playing Uncharted or Last of Us, right?
DS4 is a MASSIVE improvement and the only one I own, however, I still prefer the xbone controller. If you made the DS4 weigh twice as much and made it a touch chunkier i’d switch but for now… i’m fine with being a bit of a size king.
I like the DS4 more than the XB1 controller, my left and right hands are pretty much symmetrical, so I find the thumbstick placement better on the PS4. It is lighter too, but feels better made/more rugged and the control feels more precise.
I really enjoy the DS4 but I have one gripe, that is the grip on the analog sticks has peeled off.
I was disappointed because this is something that should never happen within only 9 months of on and off gameplay. Also i was playing Destiny at the time, my thumb slipped and it cost me my (virtual) life!
Damn you bastards, your negligence killed him. Why Sony WHY!!!!
This! My grip is coming off as well sad face
Just googled the issue for images…. that is utterly unacceptable!! Anyone suffering this issue should put in warranty claim after warranty claim after warranty claim until they provide a controller that isn’t prone to this issue!
GCN, bitches.
Dual Shock 4 is my honest 2nd favourite controller ever. Second only to the Game Cube. I am even thinking of buying a 2nd DS4 for PC use to replace my USB Xbox360 controller.
How they get the Xbone controller to be so meh though? The triggers are a terrible shape and using said 4 shoulder buttons is arkward and bleh. Not smaller hand friendly at all. Much prefer the 360 controller.
I still haven’t gotten my PS4 (still got another 6 or so weeks before Coke Rewards delivers it).
How many games make use of the touch pad on the DS4?
All the games I’ve played have “used” it, but usually it’s just as a substitute for a normal button. Some games use it pretty cool like in Thief you lightly touch it to bring up the inventory and slide around to select things and push down harder to select it.
It’s cool, but I don’t think we’ve seen anything actually use it yet.
It’s normally used to use the map screens/ some small gestures.
TBH, I don’t think it’ll ever be as big an innovation as the WiiU pad, but still quite handy, especially for extra input and general ‘future proofing’ to bride the gap in offerings so that the controller can ‘do’ most the things that the Vita/ WiiU pad can. IE. It helps to not segregate the market in terms of ‘not’ offering touch input.
Use is fairly minimal, though there are small things which make you pause and go ‘hey, that’s actually brilliant!’ like using the touchpad to type on the virtual keyboard or in Watch Dogs where it opens the map and touchpad is used to scroll and pan around. I don’t think it offers pinch-to-zoom like a phone’s Google Maps yet though.
I don’t have an xbone but I tried it out at a demo booth, I didn’t like it. I still think the 360 controller is the best of the best (with the chatpad for extra weight, awww yeah) and the xbone controller felt like a 3rd party controller in comparison, just didn’t feel as comfortable in my hands.
Meanwhile the DS4 is lightyears ahead of the DS3. I loathe going back to my PS3 if only because I have to use *that* controller. My only complaint about the DS4 is the pointless light on the front that is now slathered in blu-tac, letting out just enough light in case it’s needed in a game.
While I prefer the feel of the DS4, for extended gaming sessions it’s definitely the xbone controller. After a while my hands start aching while using the DS4, it sucks. Never had that with any other controller :s
I like the DS4 more than XBone. The D-pad on the XBone is in a really weird place for me, its just doesn’t feel intuitive to move from the sticks down to the d-Pads. I also feel the triggers have too much curve on the XBone and make the transition from the triggers to the shoulder buttons a bit harder for me anyway
I didn’t like what they did with the shoulder buttons on the x1 till I figured out that you’re meant to hit them with the top/side of your finger so as to not have to take them off the triggers. Now the 360 controller feels weird and in-efficient to me. :/
Again with the “either or none”s…
My pick is a Dual Shock 4 modded with x1 sticks.
If I am forced to pick right now, I’d have to say the x1 controller.
DS4. They messed up the Xbone curve so that shoulder buttons are harder to access (and you’re not supposed to user them properly anyway). DS4 fucked up the shoulder buttons too, but at least they are in an ergonomic position.
Oh and fuck the light on Xbone controller. Some designers are obviously twats.
Using the latest DS4 Tool on PC you can edit the light’s settings to do whatever you want or just be permanently off – so perhaps they’ll add this function in a firmware update for the PS4?
The PS4 has full, medium, dim options now. Dim is okay. The xbone has a super-bright light on the main Xbox button. Since it’s facing the player, it sears my retinas to play in the dark.
DS4 by a whisker.
I walked into JB Hi-Fi to pick up a DS4 controller for my PC, and nearly walked out with the Xbox One – it just felt so right in my hands – and this is coming from someone who’s never strayed from the Sony camp. However those asymetrical sticks and poorer triggers gave me pause, and my own Playstation fanboyism sealed it – I just couldn’t stand the thought of using something with that giant XBOX logo on it.
The centre touchpad thing is actually really cool and I hope game developers make use of it, but the Dpad on the DS4 is going to take a little adjusting to after 3 generations – it has quite a different height/action for me.
I’ve been team playstation since the beginning but xbone controller gets my vote this time around.
The ps4 contoller would be perfect except for one thing. The damn R2 trigger issue. Its so flimsy if you press too hard its very easy to break the plastic that holds it together. Really easy to do when getting too excited playing a FPS. I have gone through 6 contollers since launch which makes them more expensive than the console. Well known isssue, fix it sony!
The Xbox One controller is the definitive refinement of a controller design that started all the way back with the SEGA Saturn 3D Controller. It Is beautifully designed. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Sega-Saturn-3D-Controller.jpg
The PS4 controller is nothing to sniff at either and an excellent update to the classic PSone design.
Xbox One for me.
Xbone for the simple fact that it just works with pc with little to no screwing around
DS4 has little to no screw around too and you can play it wireless and can use the track pad
I have both and like the xbox controller better. The triggers are the main difference for me and the DS4 still don’t make the grade. Downloaded the destiny beta on both consoles and the xbox controller was way better. More comfortable after long sessions too
I have a PS4, I love the controller, but when I used the XBONE controller, it just felt so nice. I preferred the dualshock 3 to the XB360 controller too.
Until this year, I hated every Dual Shock and loved the 360’s controller… but I’ll go with the DS4, it’s an improvement in virtually every way. I wish there was a ‘super controller’ that combined the best of both though, aka. the DS4’s body, the Xbox’s offset analogue sticks and their caps, rumble triggers (though not the actual triggers), and better battery life = bliss.
I’ve only played with the DS4 a few times but I find it too small still.
I’ve always liked the microsoft controllers and I personally prefer asymmetrical layout.
Until I have that option on PS4 as with PS3 I just won’t but the system which is a shame.
I’m not saying its bad, just it’s not good for me.
I feel like this poll is going to be completely skewed by people that have only used 1 controller.
I’ve used both. the DS4 is awesome but i prefer the XB1 controller.
Sticks are better, rumble triggers are great (when a game uses them), being lighter is better for extended play and the theyre not flimsy, they only creak because theyre held together with internal clips instead of screws.
The DS4 is great, theyve finally got a hang of making a controller comfortable in your hand however the sticks are crap to use (plus i still have the placement of them), the weight althoguh feels nice in your hand, isnt as good for extended play, and the touchpad in the middle is all but pointless. the triggers feel nicer under your fingers though and the motion control from it is pretty sweet too.
Overall, I prefer the Xbox One controller though I can understand why people would prefer each over the other.
well i’ve been playing on the DS4 controller and i reckon its pretty damn good.
i got to touch an Xbox one controller for the first time the other day, wasn’t too bad, shapes ok, buttons were ok until i used the bumper buttons, i don’t like them one bit, i cringed, and the pads an improvement but still pretty average, so yeah.
there is a complaint i have with the DS4 which is the material they used on the thumb sticks, it comes off easy but it isn’t a big deal (well too me since i can replace it easy). i cant wrap my head around why Xbox controller is the same price as a DS4, one comes with rechargeable batteries the other doesn’t come with a battery at all, play and charge kit costs like another $25 bucks here in aus, no .
So the DS4 is a clear winner for me personally.