PS4 Gamepads Won't Work For PS5 Games, Sony Says (arstechnica.com) 42
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: You won't be able to use Sony's DualShock 4 or other third-party PS4 gamepads to play PlayStation 5 games, Sony confirmed in a blog post today. Those older gamepads will still work with "supported PS4 games" running on the PS5, Sony said, and PS5 software will work with "specialty peripherals" designed for the PS4 -- including "officially licensed racing wheels, arcade sticks, and flight sticks." Those caveats highlight the fact that there's no technical limitation or communication protocol mismatch stopping the upcoming hardware from communicating with legacy controllers.
But Sony says it "believe[s] that PS5 games should take advantage of the new capabilities and features we're bringing to the platform, including the features of DualSense wireless controller." Those features include what Sony is calling "haptic feedback and dynamic trigger effects" and a built-in microphone (last month, Geoff Keighley hosted what is, thus far, the only public hands-on impressions of these new controller features). The DualSense compatibility decision casts Sony in contrast to Microsoft, which is promising that "your Xbox One gaming accessories come into the future with you, too" with the coming Xbox Series X. While that promise doesn't extend to the defunct Kinect camera, it does include specialty pads like the Xbox Elite Controller and Xbox Adaptive Controller. "We believe that your investments in gaming should move with you into the next generation," Microsoft wrote in a blog post last month. PlayStation Move controllers -- first released in 2010 for use with the PS3—will continue to work with PlayStation VR games on the PS5, Sony said. The PS4's existing PlayStation Camera accessory will also work on the PS5, though it will require an adaptor that Sony says it will be providing to users for free.
But Sony says it "believe[s] that PS5 games should take advantage of the new capabilities and features we're bringing to the platform, including the features of DualSense wireless controller." Those features include what Sony is calling "haptic feedback and dynamic trigger effects" and a built-in microphone (last month, Geoff Keighley hosted what is, thus far, the only public hands-on impressions of these new controller features). The DualSense compatibility decision casts Sony in contrast to Microsoft, which is promising that "your Xbox One gaming accessories come into the future with you, too" with the coming Xbox Series X. While that promise doesn't extend to the defunct Kinect camera, it does include specialty pads like the Xbox Elite Controller and Xbox Adaptive Controller. "We believe that your investments in gaming should move with you into the next generation," Microsoft wrote in a blog post last month. PlayStation Move controllers -- first released in 2010 for use with the PS3—will continue to work with PlayStation VR games on the PS5, Sony said. The PS4's existing PlayStation Camera accessory will also work on the PS5, though it will require an adaptor that Sony says it will be providing to users for free.
oh wath a shock (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
As the story goes, it's actually compatible. And you can still play PS4 games on PS5 with PS4 controllers. And wheels, camera etc are compatible. But PS5 games supporting new PS5 controller features will not be compatible with PS4 controllers that don't have them.
That makes sense.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
This is the equivalent of Microsoft releasing a new version of Office, but requiring you to purchase a new Microsoft Mouse
No it isn't. A version of Office is a *software* revision, this is a *hardware* revision. It makes complete sense that a new hardware system will require a new hardware controller to control it.
Re: (Score:2)
It makes complete sense that a new hardware system will require a new hardware controller to control it.
It would, which is why the part of the summary where they explain that third party controllers will continue to work with the PS5 is so important. (Apparently I'm not allowed to quote it directly, as that's "lame." I guess the editors got sick and tired of people quoting editing errors in the summary.)
This means that there's no technical issue preventing older controllers from working. If there were, you wouldn't be able to use these older controllers.
Sure, you'd miss out on the new PS5 features when using
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
No it isn't. A version of Office is a *software* revision, this is a *hardware* revision.
Are you daft? You don't use the hardware "peripherals" with the hardware "console". You use the hardware "peripherals" with the software that runs on the console.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
If one end of that hardware layer is being revised, it makes complete sense that the other end of the hardware layer also needs to be revised.
I disagree. Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL) exist for a reason. This is nothing more than a pure cash-grab by Sony, who would just love to sell your family another four controllers at $60 a piece.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I've had to replace several PS3 controllers over the years, and those things cost more than they are worth too. Those are usually over $45 each for a USED one. Finding a new genuine one is like finding a needle in a
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The consoles are more like an appliance, you don't have manage it, the updates are automatic, you don't have to fuss with drivers and updates breaking things. You know all the games that are for
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
So you're stubbornly still using a two-button mouse and never bought a new mouse with a scroll wheel when that became a common feature?
What does that have to do with anything? What is important is that such a mouse still works ;)
Re: (Score:2)
Eventually almost everyone bought one of those, but even to this very day I don't think there is any software that will refuse to run if it detects that your mouse lacks a scroll wheel.
Mousewheel (Score:2)
So you're stubbornly still using a two-button mouse and never bought a new mouse with a scroll wheel when that became a common feature?
There's a difference in a feature being so useful, that it sees strong demand and eventually becomes omnipresent and can nowadays be realied upon (which is the case of scroll wheels), and shoving a new feature down people's throat hoping that by artificially inceasing the market share, it would drive adoption be the gamedevs (which is what Sony seems to be doing. And is a dumb idea: if no indie studio can't dream up a interesting creative use-case where that feature is a must have, perhaps the feature is mo
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
But PS5 games supporting new PS5 controller features will not be compatible with PS4 controllers that don't have them.
That would make sense if the corollary were also true: PS5 games that do not use new PS5 controller features could use PS4 controllers.
But they can't.
Third party PS4 controllers will be supported by all games.
First party PS4 controllers will only work when running PS4 games.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
I get the feeling that someone is trying to spur up a controversy that really isn't a big deal. (Probably pressured by Microsoft or an XBox fanboy, just an uninformed guess)
They probably wanted to make the same level of rage when Apple dropped the 3mm headphone slot. But as you had stated it isn't nearly as big of a deal. It is just that PS5 Games that use the new features of the PS5 controller won't work with the PS4 controllers.
It is like me complaining that an Atari 8 directions (Well 4, but it handles
Damn you 2020 (Score:2)
You were supposed to be the year we tolerated infinite vision memes, and then you laid a plague upon us tainted with murder hornets and Pennywise governors... now this?
If an asteroid the size of Texas gets us before the decade is over, it'll be a mercy.
Re: Damn you 2020 (Score:4, Funny)
Dear Diary June 30th 2020 Edition:
In January, Australia caught on fire. I donâ(TM)t even know if that fire was put out, because we straight up almost went to war with Iran. We might actually still be almost at war with them. I donâ(TM)t know, because Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt spoke to one another at an awards show and everyone flipped out, but then Netflix released Cheers and everyone fell in love with Jerry, but then there was thing happening in China, then Prince Harry and Megan peaced out of the Royal family, and there was the whole impeachment trial, and then corona virus showed up in the US âoeofficially,â but then Kobe died and UK peaced out of the European Union. And someone had a great idea to stand up all the brooms which is really how all of this might have started.
In February, Iowa crapped itself with the caucus results and the president was acquitted and the Speaker of the House took ten years to rip up a speech, but then WHO decided to give this virus a name COVID-19, which confused some really important people in charge of, like, our lives, into thinking there were 18 other versions before it, but then Harvey Weinstein was found guilty, and Americans started asking if Corona beer was safe to drink, and everyone on Facebook became a doctor who just knew the flu like killed way more people than COVID 1 through 18.
In March, shit hit the fan. First Tom Brady left the Patriots and then Warren dropped out of the presidential race and Sanders was like Bernie or bust, but then Italy shut its whole ass down, and then COVID Not 1 through 18 officially become what everyone already realized, a pandemic and then a nationwide state of emergency was declared in US, but it didnâ(TM)t really change anything, so everyone was confused or thought it was still just a flu, but then COVID Not 18 was like yaâ(TM)ll not taking me seriously? Iâ(TM)m gonna infect the one celebrity everyone loves and totally infected Tom Hanks, but then the DOW took a shit on itself, and most of us still donâ(TM)t understand why the stock market is so important or even a thing, but then we were all introduced to Tiger King. (Carol totally killed her husband), and Netflix was like youâ(TM)re welcome, and we all realized there was no way we were washing our hands enough in the first place because all of our hands are now dry and gross.
In April, Bernie finally busted himself out of the presidential race, but then NYC became the set of The Walking Dead and we learn that no one has face masks, ventilators, or toilet paper, or THE GOD DAMN SWIFTER WET JET LIQUID. Everyone downloaded Zoom which may be where all the hackers are now hanging out but then Kim Jong-Un died, but then he came back to life⦠or did he? Who knows, because then the Pentagon released videos of UFOs, and we were like man, itâ(TM)s only Aprilâ¦.
In May, the biblical end times kicked off historical locust swarms and then we learned of murder hornets and realized that 2020 was the start of the Hunger Games but people forgot to let us know, but then people legit protested lockdown measures with AR-15s, and then sports events were cancelled everywhere, Everyone finished the end of Netflix and now had nothing new to watch on TV. But then people all over America finally reached a breaking point with race issues and violence. There were protests in every city, but then people totes forgot about the pandemic called COVID Not One Through 18. Media struggled with how to focus on two important things at once, but then people in general struggle to focus on more than one important thing, and a dead whale was found in the middle of the Amazon rain forest after monkeys stole COVID 1 Through 19 from a lab and ran off with them, and either in May or April (no one is keeping track of time now) that a giant asteroid narrowly missed earth.
In June, science and common sense just got thrown straight out the window and somehow wearing masks became a political thing, but then a whole lot of people
This way is better (Score:1)
Although it's nice to be able to use the same old controllers, it is absolutely true if they do so new games will not make good use of new controller features.
It's not like the new console will not ship with a controller, and you can still use the PS4 controllers the market has everywhere today to play legacy games if you like.
If you're going to make a new console it's better to act like it and make it truly new. Otherwise what is the point?
Re: (Score:3)
Why? What major new controller innovation requires a new controller?
A lot of PS4 controller innovations remain highly unused - the touch pad on most games, for example. When's the last time it was required to control something other than acting like a really big auxiliary button? The last time a controller speaker was unique was back when Guitar Hero was a thing - the Wii version of Guitar Hero would use the controller speaker to give feedback on your playing. But that's about it.
Microsoft has decided to es
Re: (Score:2)
If they don't innovate they will get slammed for sitting back and coasting, but if they do try to innovate, then it's only because they're greedy? I would assume drawing a line in the sand about no ds4 controllers for PS5 games is for simplicity sake, otherwise they need to mark on all packaging and track for every game exactly what peripherals work.
Also, why is this suddenly a big deal now, when it's been true for virtually all previous consoles from all vendors? The only example to this point I can think
Re: (Score:2)
If they don't innovate they will get slammed for sitting back and coasting, but if they do try to innovate, then it's only because they're greedy?
False dichotomy. They can innovate in ways that don't cost extra money at a time when their customers have less money than ever.
I would assume drawing a line in the sand about no ds4 controllers for PS5 games is for simplicity sake, otherwise they need to mark on all packaging and track for every game exactly what peripherals work.
You mean like they have done since the very first Playstation? There are icons on the back of the game packages which tell you which controllers are supported.
why is this suddenly a big deal now, when it's been true for virtually all previous consoles from all vendors?
Controller prices have steadily risen, consumers have less free cash than ever before in Playstation history, and Microsoft isn't doing the same thing. You will be able to use the old controllers for the new games on their pl
Re: (Score:2)
Sony have a history of this though, they've consistently been adding unused gimmicks. The touch pad was the point where I just knew no developers, beyond first party developers were going to implement it in to any game. It was like that with the PS Vita, it remained the case with the PS4.
The real question is, will developers be locked out from allowing PS4 controllers on their PS5 games? Also, will it really matter? How often do these consoles get used with more than one controller anyway? local multiplayer
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Why? What major new controller innovation requires a new controller?
Right? Should have just stuck with the Atari 2600 joystick, since no innovation is ever possible.
Seems like another missed opportunity (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
That will likely come with PSVR 2.
Sony and controllers (Score:3)
They seem to be keen on developing very similar but ever so slightly different controllers each generation. Overall the progress might be a good thing, however for most games we don't care if that is a start button or the menu one as long as it is the one right next to the middle PS logo, or share vs back, etc. 99% of the games would work fine, and more than half of the last percent will use the extra functionality just for gimmicks.
I had the PS Vita for example. It has a unique touch back side. That alone makes many PS Vita games incompatible with other platforms (including PS Vita TV version), even though the touch functionality is actually cumbersome in games.
We already have invested heavily in PS4 along with many good controllers. In fact they work really well even on Steam/PC games. Why force rebuy when it would be better to allow piecemeal upgrades during these hard times?
Re: Sony and controllers (Score:4, Informative)
They seem to?
This has only been going since about the entire history of gaming consoles with few exceptions. It should surprise no one. It is expected, you open a new game console box and a shiny new controller pops out. The new launch show off new controller features. The feel of the new controller is at least half the experience of buying a new system.
Dad, can we get a Super Nintendo??
Sorry Jimmy, your game collection won't run on it and we'd have to buy all new accessories, maybe next Christmas.
Awe shucks. - Every kid in 1990, 1991, 1992, etc. and it's the same story for all the rest of them.
Re: (Score:2)
Sony already starting to lose the battle. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
Yeah, they are acting like Microsoft did before the last generation. It did not turn out well.
Its all about money (Score:2)