Sony announces Project Defiant: PlayStation 5 and PC wireless game controller for fighting games

Sony has announced Project Defiant, a wireless arcade controller for fighting games such as Street Fighter that works with PlayStation 5 consoles (sold here on Amazon) and gaming PCs. The PlayStation Project Defiant will ship with a carry case with a sling that is especially designed to protect the joysticks from damage during transport.

The controller supports low-latency connections using the PS Link wireless technology announced in 2023 in addition to using USB-C cables. Exact wireless latency numbers have not yet been released, and it is not clear whether simultaneous fighting game players will require separate PS Link USB adapters (sold here on Amazon).

The Project Defiant buttons use mechanical switches underneath, but they are clearly not laid out in the same manner as the buttons on Street Fighter arcade cabinets, so how well the controller will work in competitions has yet to be seen.

Sony has not detailed what type of mechanism is used for the custom-designed joystick, so it remains to be seen whether it is durable under heavy use or has drift issues. The joystick can be fitted with octagonal, round, or square restriction gates to limit its movement in certain directions.

The controller includes a power button feature to turn on a PlayStation 5 wirelessly, and a DualSense controller touchpad for compatibility with modern games. Runtime and additional details have not yet been released.

The Sony Project Defiant is scheduled for launch in 2026. Readers with a PC or PS5 who don't want to wait until 2026 can try the wired Razer Kitsune arcade controller (sold here on Amazon).