DualShock 5 patent design may disappoint PlayStation fans

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A new leak points towards the DualShock 5 only being a minor revision of the DualShock 4. Sony has already confirmed that it will incorporate new triggers in the controller that it will release alongside its next console. However, the patent offers an insight into the other features that the DualShock 5 will also include, along with the ones that it will likely remove.

Alex Alderson, 11/19/2019

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The PlayStation 5 is due to arrive in Holiday 2020, which Sony has already confirmed will be accompanied by a redesigned DualShock controller. While we already know that the Japanese company is bringing adaptive haptic triggers to the DualShock 5, a patent filing has possibly given a first look at the upcoming controller.

Dealing with the noticeable omission first, the patent shows that the DualShock 5 lacks a light bar like the one that Sony included in its predecessor. Perhaps Sony has integrated its PlayStation VR and feedback capabilities elsewhere, which the company hinted at with announcing its new adaptive triggers. Nonetheless, we expect that some people will be saddened by the loss of the light bar and the added immersion that it brought. The removal of the light bar may help improve battery life compared to the DualShock 4 though, a common complaint among PlayStation 4 owners.

Secondly, the new design sports larger triggers, smaller analog sticks and a redesigned speaker grille. Additionally, hiding among the indicative drawing is a more rounded charging port. Presumably, this means that Sony will switch from micro USB to USB Type-C for the next DualShock controller, then.

Overall, the DualShock 5 looks like a minor revision of the DualShock 4 with some features that may irk fans. Its smaller analog sticks will likely frustrate people with large fingers too.