Sony surprises with new Back Button OLED paddle accessory for the DualShock 4 controller

Sony has surprised with the unexpected announcement of a new accessory for its DualShock 4 controller. Dubbed the Back Button, the new attachment plugs into the PS4 controller adding two customizable paddles to the rear of the controller. The device also incorporates a small OLED panel for allowing gamers to quickly see which button or trigger is mapped to which paddle.

The device adds a similar functionality that we have previously seen Microsoft introduce on its Xbox Elite controllers, including the new Elite Series 2 model. The Sony attachment, however, is much cheaper and doesn’t require the purchase of an additional controller. While a controller like the Elite Series 2 offers up to four paddles, the Sony Back Button only offers two paddles, but this is still great for sliding and jumping.

The key advantage of an attachment like this is that it allows gamers to leave their thumbs on the dual analog sticks without need to take them off to tap the buttons or other triggers (depending on configuration). In addition to the ability to save up to three profiles, a dedicated button on the rear allows users to customize the paddles on the fly.

The Sony DualShock Back Button attachment goes on sale in North America from January 23 for US$30.

PS4 Slim on sale now at Amazon